as in to collapse
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up thinking that everyone had forgotten her birthday
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in forest fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backfire
Oyku Ilgar, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
That would raise a host of legal, logistical, and diplomatic headaches — and risk backfiring on U.S. platforms or consumers in the process.
Shares of Netflix (NFLX) and Disney (DIS) were both mostly flat Tuesday morning.
—Catherine Baab, Quartz, 6 May 2025
Doug Sundheim, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Will Indonesia’s ‘scare tactics’ backfire?
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Verb
Others suspect Spain’s heavy reliance on solar and wind energy might have backfired when renewable output dropped faster than backup systems could handle.
—Oyku Ilgar, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
That would raise a host of legal, logistical, and diplomatic headaches — and risk backfiring on U.S. platforms or consumers in the process.
Shares of Netflix (NFLX) and Disney (DIS) were both mostly flat Tuesday morning.
—Catherine Baab, Quartz, 6 May 2025
Noun
Attempts to adopt best practices without risk-taking and struggle backfire.
—Doug Sundheim, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Will Indonesia’s ‘scare tactics’ backfire?
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfire
Verb
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This is often not helped when an investment collapses or defaults, and commentators online and other advisory companies increase client doubts.—
Adam Fayed,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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After his 4-foot putt went in during the one-hole playoff against Justin Rose, McIlroy threw his golf club in the air and collapsed to the ground.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
15 May 2025
Verb
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So Oettinger, out of sheer desperation, flopped to his right, awkwardly because his right foot sort of got caught under him, and swatted the puck down with two hands.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
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Last night’s after-party offered an inclusive and welcoming environment, where folks flopped on an array of comfy sofas to take a break from dancing. Passport: Explore the finest destinations and experiences around the world in the Forbes Passport newsletter.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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New soil testing by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has found high levels of lead and other toxic metals at homes destroyed by January’s catastrophic wildfires and cleared by federal cleanup crews.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
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Franklin Rd Off Ramp A new wildfire was reported today at 10:46 a.m. in Merced County.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Visually, Zawada used black-and-white mid-century footage from Manchester – kids digging holes, smashing windows, lighting bonfires – and spliced it together with colorful claymation clips from decades ago.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
7 May 2025
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More: Man arrested for arson after bonfire ignites Jones Road wildfire, authorities say Fire could be one of New Jersey's biggest The blaze was threatening to become the biggest in New Jersey in 20 years, officials said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Toward the end of the four-hour dinner, there’s the seemingly obligatory invitation to the kitchen, or in this case, to the campfire.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Extreme weather prompted Great Smoky Mountains National Park to ban campfires and charcoal use Saturday until further notice.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfire. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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