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2
3
as in backward
toward the rear
concert security asked the crowd to move back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in jugular
a vulnerable point
a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to advocate
to promote the interests or cause of
she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to aid
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea)
the author needs to back her thesis with more facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hind
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part
she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of back
Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Much of the geological data investors rely on is 30 to 60 years old and dates back to Soviet-era surveys.
—Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
My body is wrecked, my lower back is f---ed, but nothing is broken, which feels like a miracle.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Arteta’s side finished eighth that year and backed it up with another disappointing eighth-place finish in the coach’s first full season in charge.
—Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Daily News, 14 May 2026
The back half is comprised of less showy songs that fold midlife introspection into broader concerns.
—Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
His injury, however, did not stop him from climbing back into what remained of the Hamad Building’s first floor.
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Much of the geological data investors rely on is 30 to 60 years old and dates back to Soviet-era surveys.
—Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Noun
The victim was kneeling in the street in the middle of his prayers with hundreds of other mosque congregants, when he was struck in the back.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026
My body is wrecked, my lower back is f---ed, but nothing is broken, which feels like a miracle.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Verb
Gualtieri backed himself into a corner once Jones threw a flurry of powerful shots upstairs.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Arteta’s side finished eighth that year and backed it up with another disappointing eighth-place finish in the coach’s first full season in charge.
—Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Adjective
Harris found the net in the 70th minute when Garcia battled for possession at midfield and found Harris, whose shot nestled inside the back pos for a 3-0 lead.
—Daily News, 14 May 2026
The back half is comprised of less showy songs that fold midlife introspection into broader concerns.
—Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
The world’s first space tourist, California businessman Dennis Tito, and his wife signed up 3½ years ago for a flight around the moon.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
-
The gym and indoor pool were updated around a decade ago, so have not yet been zhuzhed into the style of the rest of the place, but each is perfectly serviceable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
Adverb
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The man continued moving around inside the fountain even as police ordered him to get out, according to the outlet.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
The house is around two miles from the Islamic Center, which is in the Clairemont Mesa neighborhood.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Adverb
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In other words, this is basically a demonic-possession story, albeit one without any actual demons; at one point, Nikki briefly starts moving backward for no reason.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
All else being equal, the chance of tunneling forward is the same as tunneling backward because the overlap between the modes is symmetrical.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Noun
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And a Chicago firm continues to pursue a self-storage project to the rear of the main building.—
Thomas Gounley,
Denver Post,
20 May 2026
-
The seats can be dropped forward with buttons at the rear, which is very convenient.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Anyone familiar with a roast expects the comedians to go for the jugular, but when someone with actual grooming allegations gets called a pedophile, one questions whether the punchline really was meant to be a joke.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
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Wolf packs on the hunt encircled their prey—typically elk—clamping at the jugular when their target grew weary from the chase.—
Nidhi Sharma,
Popular Science,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Abundant Housing Illinois and YIMBY Illinois, groups that advocate for building more housing, were still reviewing the Senate package late Friday morning, Abundant Housing’s Steven Vance said in an email.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
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Further, the Ivy League and other prestigious institutions have come under fire in recent years for the ways in which their admissions outcomes seem to favor wealthy families, with many advocating for a ban on legacy admissions and other substantive changes.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
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During this time, circus families blossomed all over Mexico, aided by the appearance of the steamship and railway systems, as the circus historian Julio Revolledo Cárdenas would detail in a 2018 article for the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
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Additionally, this decision meant Microsoft could not be held liable for allegedly aiding and abetting OpenAI.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Economic analysis in the January 2026 White House Council of Economic Advisors report reinforces the advantages of this approach.—
Nicole Huyer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
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It is also intended to support rehabilitation, repairing harm to the community and those directly impacted by the offender’s action, and reinforcing community norms and values.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
23 May 2026
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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