Related Words for backfire

Compiled automatically from published text to show words that appear in related contexts. Read More Results may indicate historical usage, and do not reflect the views of Merriam-Webster. Send us feedback.
WordSyllablesCategories
boomerang
/xx
Noun, Verb
backlash
/x
Verb, Noun, Verb
annoy
x/
Verb
alienate
/xx
Verb
hurt
/
Noun
sabotage
/xx
Noun
counterproductive
/xxxx
Adjective
aggravate
/xx
Verb
happen
/x
Verb
frustrate
/x
Verb
explode
x/
Verb
antagonize
x/xx
Verb
ploy
/
Noun
undermine
/xx
Verb
exacerbate
x/xx
Verb
irritate
/xx
Verb
derail
x/
Verb
provoke
x/
Verb
disastrous
x/x
Adjective
embarrass
x/x
Verb
scare
/
Noun
fail
/
Verb
escalate
/xx
Verb
thwart
/
Verb
ignite
x/
Verb
rile
/
Noun
detrimental
xx/x
Adjective
unintentionally
xx/xxx
Adverb
blow
/
Noun
destabilize
x/xx
Verb
diminish
x/x
Verb
skyrocket
/xx
Noun
frighten
/x
Verb
ruin
/x
Noun
harm
/
Noun
implode
x/
Verb
offend
x/
Verb
nullify
/xx
Verb
retaliate
x/xx
Verb
discourage
x/x
Verb
incite
x/
Verb
threaten
/x
Verb
inadvertently
xx/xx
Adverb
falter
/x
Noun
intimidate
x/xx
Verb
intensify
x/xx
Verb
tends
/
Verb
inevitably
x/xxx
Adverb
detriment
/xx
Noun
jeopardize
/xx
Verb
ensue
x/
Noun
mollify
/xx
Verb
overreact
/xx/
Verb
confuse
x/
Verb
worsen
/x
Verb
worse
/
Adjective
trick
/
Noun
punish
/x
Verb
disintegrate
x/xx
Verb
misguided
x/x
Adjective
deflate
x/
Verb
tactic
/x
Noun
soften
/x
Verb
humiliate
x/xx
Verb
weaken
/x
Verb
affect
x/
Verb
overwhelm
xx/
Verb
damaging
/xx
Adjective
dissuade
x/
Verb
boost
/
Noun
occur
x/
Verb
unintended
xx/x
Adjective
misbehave
xx/
Verb
succeed
x/
Verb
unwise
x/
Adjective
kill
/
Verb
counteract
/xx
Verb
disrupt
x/
Verb
discredit
x/x
Noun
subverted
x/x
Verb
awry
x/
Adverb
likely
/x
Adjective
ingratiate
x/xx
Verb
devastate
/xx
Verb
undercut
/xx
Adjective
cause
/
Noun
endear
x/
Verb
confound
x/
Verb
induce
x/
Verb
turn
/
Noun
disappoint
xx/
Verb
upset
x/
Noun
terrify
/xx
Verb
outsmart
/x
Verb
betray
x/
Verb
suffocate
/xx
Verb
overreach
/xx
Noun
dampen
/x
Verb
flag
/
Noun
miss the mark
/x/
Name, Verb
burn
/
Noun
catch fire
//x
Phrase, Verb
shoot oneself in the foot
/x/xx/
Phrase, Verb
open fire
/x/x
Phrase, Verb, Noun
return fire
x//x
Phrase, Noun, Verb
pull the trigger
/x/x
Phrase, Verb
fire off
/x/
Phrase, Verb
fight fire with fire
//x//x
Phrase, Verb
crash and burn
//x
Phrase, Verb
go up in smoke
//x/
Phrase, Verb
go up in flames
//x/
Phrase, Verb
shotgun
/x
Noun
bullet
/x
Noun
loose cannon
//x
Phrase, Noun, Verb
shoot off
//
Phrase, Verb
noses
/x
Noun
pop
/
Noun
strategy
/xx
Noun
intentions
x/x
Noun
horribly
/xx
Adverb
attempts
x/
Noun
humor
/x
Noun
appeals
x/
Noun
sanctions
/x
Noun
run
/
Noun
efforts
/x
Noun
campaigns
x/
Noun
feared
/
Verb
schemes
/
Noun
engine
/x
Noun
bound
/
Verb
ache
/
Noun, Verb
agitation
xx/x
Noun
bang
/
Noun, Verb, Adverb
breaks
/
Verb, Noun
bump
/
Noun, Verb
clap
/
Noun, Verb
colds
/
Noun
defeat
x/
Noun, Verb
fits
/
Verb
heave
/
Verb, Noun
hiccups
/x
Noun
hitch
/
Noun, Verb
hurricane
/xx
Noun, Verb
knocks
/
Verb
rap
/
Noun, Verb
rebound
x/
Noun, Verb
scuffle
/x
Noun, Verb
squall
/
Noun, Verb
sting
/
Noun, Verb
thunder
/x
Noun, Verb
tumble
/x
Verb, Noun
bundle
/x
Noun, Verb
stonewall
/x
Name, Verb, Adjective
backwater
/xx
Noun, Verb
aisle
/
Noun
off
/
Adverb, Adjective, Verb, Noun
fall
/
Verb, Noun
closet
/x
Noun, Adjective, Verb
bog
/
Noun, Verb, Adjective
milestone
/x
Noun, Verb
pidgin
/x
Noun
gloss
/
Noun, Verb
stovepipe
/x
Noun, Verb
die
/
Verb, Noun
get
/
Verb, Noun
backside
/x
Noun, Adjective
southend
/x
Name