BACK-AND-FORTHS Synonyms: 62 Similar Words

back-and-forths

noun

plural of back-and-forth

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

Relevance

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for back-and-forths

Noun

Thirty states — including Florida, Iowa, Ohio and others expected to be key battlegrounds in November’s midterm elections — use the federal exchanges for their ACA operations.

— Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026
In programmatic advertising, this issue is especially relevant because data comes from multiple platforms, including ad exchanges, SSPs and DSPs.

— Roman Vrublivskyi, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of exchanges

Noun

Their partnership has developed despite a history that has fueled one of the most intense debates in American sports.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
During one of their debates, Stefany Shaheen called out Sullivan, who served in the Obama administration, for supporting a plan that would keep private insurance as an option.

— Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of debates

Noun

As a result, a draft resolution was created and the UN General Assembly held informal consultations on it in July.

— Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
The address encompasses three levels of retail, plus an employee lunchroom, an expansive alterations atelier along with dedicated spaces for fittings and bespoke consultations.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of consultations

Noun

The school’s athletic director told Front Office Sports last month Tarleton has had conversations with multiple FBS leagues and wants to move up within the next five years.

— Manny Navarro, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Asian food Lucknow is considered by many Indians as one of the country’s greatest culinary capitals, but beyond the South Asian nation’s borders, the city has remained largely absent from global conversations about food.

— Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of conversations

Noun

As trade talks with Canada remain on ice, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is set to travel to Mexico on Wednesday, according to Mexico’s trade minister.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
The talks surrounding Sunday alcohol sales recently arose during a citizens forum at a recent meeting, said City Administrator Jeff Dingman.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of talks

Noun

Mindy Leffler developed the Duchenne Video Assessment, used in Capricor’s Phase 3 study, and consults on its data.

— Mindy Leffler, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026
Path2Papers, a project at Cornell Law School, analyzed 1,600 consults and estimated that around 60% of DACA recipients would be subject to the 10-year ban.

— Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of consults

Browse Nearby Words

back-and-forth

back-and-forths

back away

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“Back-and-forths.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back-and-forths. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of back-and-forths

noun

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