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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
Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
This anchor of the shopping/dining/entertainment enclave of Northeast 13th Street became a buzzy eatery (and a brunch fave) when Kimberly Wong, Blaise McMackin and Scott Ojeda opened back in 2018 in a space shared with Warsaw Coffee Co.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Grint admits that this recent shift towards genre may well a subconscious a push-back against his most high-profile role.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Sarah Davis, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
The Appropriations Committee on Thursday backed the proposal (SB 694) after $4 million was added to the measure that seeks to compensate the families of Ernest Thomas, Samuel Shepherd, Charles Greenlee and Walter Irvin.
—News Service Of Florida, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Upon arriving to the scene, police reportedly saw an arrow lodged into the back wall of the garage.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
Earlier, the Senate removed the social media portion of the bill in its deliberations, but a House education committee added it back in this month.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
This anchor of the shopping/dining/entertainment enclave of Northeast 13th Street became a buzzy eatery (and a brunch fave) when Kimberly Wong, Blaise McMackin and Scott Ojeda opened back in 2018 in a space shared with Warsaw Coffee Co.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
Noun
Dreher spends much of his time with monks, back-to-the-land theologians, and exorcists.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Grint admits that this recent shift towards genre may well a subconscious a push-back against his most high-profile role.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
Henry, a former running back for the Buffalo Bills, pleaded guilty in 2009 for conspiracy to traffic cocaine and was sentenced to three years in prison for financially backing a drug ring.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 13 Feb. 2026
The Appropriations Committee on Thursday backed the proposal (SB 694) after $4 million was added to the measure that seeks to compensate the families of Ernest Thomas, Samuel Shepherd, Charles Greenlee and Walter Irvin.
—News Service Of Florida, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The past — which includes a back injury that derailed his first big league season and a broken wrist in the second — has somewhat clouded Carter’s once-top prospect status.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Upon arriving to the scene, police reportedly saw an arrow lodged into the back wall of the garage.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
Nanos, the sheriff, stopped giving press conferences days ago.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
While bird flu is still affecting the industry, the scale of disruption is far smaller than a year ago, allowing production to recover.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Last week, Kodak posted a 10-minute video that between YouTube and TikTok has racked up around 1 million views, in which Coogler makes complex topics like aspect ratios, film formats and sound design accessible and fun.—
Quincy Bowie,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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According to automotive enthusiast site CarBuzz, Bad Bunny reportedly traded in his multimillion-dollar Bugatti Chiron to drive around in an old 2003 Toyota Corolla in Puerto Rico.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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That said, too many Republicans in Austin are focused on hyper-partisan and social issues that take our state backwards and come at the expense of the serious issues the Legislature should focus on.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Buzelis was still suspended midair when Collin Sexton backpedaled underneath the forward, knocking his legs backward to send the younger player crashing to the floor, stomach-first.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
According to popular legend, Bernini took his revenge against the friars by facing the rear of the elephant with its tail lifted toward their convent.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The front of the SUV hit the rear of the Waymo.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The actress manages to pull this off with subtlety and grace in a movie that could have easily gone straight for the emotional jugular.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
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Two months before Twilight kicked off the glittery vampire craze, Alan Ball’s True Blood had already put an original, sexy spin on the jugular-draining genre.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Some philosophers and activists advocate for pet abolition, arguing that treating any animals as property is ethically indefensible.—
Margret Grebowicz,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
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Early birds insist a morning cardio burst is superior, while night owls may advocate for a nighttime strength training session.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Over the past five years, the agency has awarded more than $500 million to aid the development of commercial outposts in LEO.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Nancy Guthrie, whose health her family has described as fragile, was allegedly kidnapped earlier this month in a case that has now captured the nation's attention and brought federal law enforcement to Arizona to aid local police in a desperate search for her abductor.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By the Middle Ages, people in France and England believed birds began mating around that time of year, reinforcing the connection to romance.—
Katey Psencik,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
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More off days for Altuve is another possibility — one that could be reinforced if the Astros do carry their current infield surplus into the season.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
14 Feb. 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 20 Feb. 2026.
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