backlash

noun

back·​lash ˈbak-ˌlash 

1

a

: a sudden violent backward movement or reaction

b

: the play between adjacent movable parts (as in a series of gears)

also : the jar caused by this when the parts are put into action

2

: a snarl in that part of a fishing line wound on the reel

3

: a strong adverse reaction (as to a recent political or social development)

backlasher noun

Examples of backlash in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The party is largely hoping the traditional midterm backlash and frustration with President Trump will boost Democrats to the majority, though anger is bubbling from the grassroots at Democratic leaders and their response to the new administration. —Julia Mueller, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025

University of Wisconsin-Madison public affairs professor Mariel Barnes, whose research focuses on backlash to gender equality and the manosphere, says the manosphere started to coalesce online around 2008 and grew with the rise of blogging websites. —Rachel Hale, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025

The most immediate context for this comment is presumably both the backlash to Hogwarts Legacy and the ongoing backlash over Rowling’s views writ large regarding trans women being dangerous predators. —Aja Romano, Vox, 18 Apr. 2025

Target’s challenges run deeper than DEI backlash, and resistance to its policy change only added to its issues. —Gabrielle Fonrouge,melissa Repko, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing backlash

• anti-backlash

Rhymes for backlash

• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• mustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• whiplash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

backlash

noun

back·​lash ˈbak-ˌlash 

: a reaction against some political or social development