1
2
as in around
toward the opposite direction
turned back for one last comment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in backwards
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
1
as in supporter
a person who actively supports or favors a cause
backers of prison reform held a rally in front of the statehouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sponsor
a person who takes the responsibility for some other person or thing
all financial backers will be expected to offer some input into the company's decisions
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ally
someone associated with another to give assistance or moral support
the student's backers spoke at the school board meeting on her behalf
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of back
Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Plus, the service lost subscribers last quarter—a show people are excited about could lure back some whose bundles expired.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Cathy Cassata, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
Valdez turned his back to the plate and paused as Salazar and Volpe stared at him.
—CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Cincoro was founded in 2019 by Jordan along with NBA team owners Jeanie Buss and Wes Edens, among a few others, and it’s also backed by other star athletes like Serena Williams and Derek Jeter.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2025
Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
However, back injuries can be very persistent and stubborn.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The Rams are also bullish on the rookie Stewart, who provides a change of pace with his speed moves at backer compared to the powerful duo of Verse and Young.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
Mike Judge has brought the series back twice, first in 2011 and again in 2022.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Plus, the service lost subscribers last quarter—a show people are excited about could lure back some whose bundles expired.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
The sport doesn’t necessarily build muscle strength directly, but Brown said tennis can help with muscle endurance, specifically in the core, legs, shoulders, and upper back.
—Cathy Cassata, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
Valdez turned his back to the plate and paused as Salazar and Volpe stared at him.
—CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
The hammer blow was last week's dismissal by the Constitutional Court of Thaksin's daughter and protege Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the sixth prime minister from or backed by the Shinawatra family to be removed by the military or judiciary.
—Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Cincoro was founded in 2019 by Jordan along with NBA team owners Jeanie Buss and Wes Edens, among a few others, and it’s also backed by other star athletes like Serena Williams and Derek Jeter.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The platform gives a little lift without sacrificing comfort, and the back strap means no sliding or blisters.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2025
However, back injuries can be very persistent and stubborn.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
Across the country, Democratic candidates with progressive and left-wing backers are distancing themselves from some of their own supporters’ ideas — and getting plenty of space to do it.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The Rams are also bullish on the rookie Stewart, who provides a change of pace with his speed moves at backer compared to the powerful duo of Verse and Young.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
A couple of years ago, Collingwood claimed the ‘Velcro-handed’ Jordan was the best he’s ever seen.—
James Wallace,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Somebody did it a long time ago, many, many decades ago.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
With median download speeds around 251 Mbps, Virginia households benefit from a mix of cable, fiber, wireless and satellite providers, though availability varies by location.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
-
There was a lot to learn from that outing and Bergert made some key changes his second time around.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The group agreed to advocate for device-free schools, delay buying phones for their kids for as long as possible, and restrict social media until late adolescence.—
Charlotte Alter,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Americans for Prosperity ― Ogles' former employer and that of many of his congressional staff ― is a political special interest group that advocates for limited government, free markets and fiscal restraint.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The road to all these riches was aided by CBS’ failure to have the leverage of a backup plan for Romo five years ago.—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Another strategy that might be employed by a therapist involves setting up behavioral experiments to aid in reducing AI usage and AI reliance.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
30 Aug. 2025
-
These forms of intimacy between a couple reinforce one another; sharing their emotions with one another will enhance physical closeness in turn, and vice versa.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
There were no paper towels at the rear hand sink and hand sink at the beverage prep area.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The iX3 is extremely stiff, with the front and rear axles mounted to the battery pack.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Woolen leaped to snag the ball but faded backward while doing so.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The designers experimented by reverting to using a solid case and then moved the keys away from the edges of the keyboard and moved the LEDs backwards.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Over the weekend, I was endorsed by a Democratic mayor.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Still, the American Medical Association does not endorse or oppose specific healthcare models, including concierge medicine, the AMA told The Charlotte Observer in an email.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Sep. 2025
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 8 Sep. 2025.
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