1
as in exchanges
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another
after the usual back-and-forth of official gifts, the two leaders entered into a serious discussion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in discussions
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue
the others listened with relish to the back-and-forth between the two noted professors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back-and-forths
LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have all had public back-and-forths with Smith over the years.
—
Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
With each witness, Guillard — in her role as her own attorney — challenged their testimony in sometimes testy back-and-forths that had to be refereed by the judge and court staff.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Kelce and Nicole, 34, broke up multiple times throughout their five years together, and made several public comments and back-and-forths about each other on social media and in interviews over the years.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Given the awkward back-and-forths seen thus far and, even more so, Robinson’s history playing poor communicators, the description is hard to believe.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
The rapper and boxer have had social media back-and-forths with Remy on several occasions due to the situation.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 25 Sep. 2025
But unlike some of the classic back-and-forths of the past Probst would have during challenges with folks like Penner and Parvati Shallow, Survivor 49 will also air interactions that take place on both sides of the contests.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Republicans and Democrats engaged in many back-and-forths during the hearing on Wednesday that began in the morning and is expected to last into the evening.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
Our back-and-forths with a chatbot, in turn, exteriorize our private, internal dialogues, which some consider constitutive of thought itself.
—Dan Rockmore, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025
Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
With each witness, Guillard — in her role as her own attorney — challenged their testimony in sometimes testy back-and-forths that had to be refereed by the judge and court staff.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
Kelce and Nicole, 34, broke up multiple times throughout their five years together, and made several public comments and back-and-forths about each other on social media and in interviews over the years.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Given the awkward back-and-forths seen thus far and, even more so, Robinson’s history playing poor communicators, the description is hard to believe.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
The rapper and boxer have had social media back-and-forths with Remy on several occasions due to the situation.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 25 Sep. 2025
But unlike some of the classic back-and-forths of the past Probst would have during challenges with folks like Penner and Parvati Shallow, Survivor 49 will also air interactions that take place on both sides of the contests.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Republicans and Democrats engaged in many back-and-forths during the hearing on Wednesday that began in the morning and is expected to last into the evening.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
Our back-and-forths with a chatbot, in turn, exteriorize our private, internal dialogues, which some consider constitutive of thought itself.
—Dan Rockmore, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back-and-forths
Noun
-
An amendment to the city’s nutrition center budget, which preserves the program’s daily meal cap at 250 rather than reducing it to 200 as per staff recommendation, sparked the meeting’s sharpest exchanges.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
-
Initial public offerings from SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI in the coming months could add close to $4 trillion in market capitalization to US exchanges, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.—
Jeran Wittenstein,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The Kim-Xi meeting could include discussions on resuming Chinese tourism to North Korea and opening a bridge over the Yalu River that has remained unused years after its completion, Koh said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
-
Simard’s discussions with First Native people led her to include centuries-old Indigenous, natural-world wisdom into her studies and conclusions.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Kristi Burton Brown, another former state party chair, questioned Marx’s apparent disinterest in policy discussions and debates.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
-
But the case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent with some attacking police with chairs and rocks.—
Henry Austin,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The target is settling lower after consultations with advisers and investors, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Kansas City’s plan was the product of three years of preparations, research and consultations from 118 residents and human rights organizations and business support professionals, according to KC2026.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Those techniques facilitate back-and-forth conversations between the target and the AI clone voice, potentially making the scam more convincing, Ajder said.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
For many of the scouts on lottery teams, conversations have centered on KU’s Darryn Peterson.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The talks, conducted in coordination with the US, lasted into the early hours of this morning, the source said, as the US was striking Iran.—
Arpita Dasika,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
Newly promoted Bolton Wanderers are currently in talks to sign the versatile 22-year-old, with other Championship clubs also interested.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Talcove consults with the government on tracking illicit funds.—
Laura Geller,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
But since this efficiency exercise was first announced, the amount the state expects to save from the consults’ recommendations has been dramatically reduced.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back-and-forths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back-and-forths. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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