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

The result is more messages and fewer real exchanges, and people turning to AI as their friend and confidant.

— Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
When Krick and Stagg enter the command boardroom to present their opposing cases mere hours before a decision must be made, the film slips into a type of courtroom drama of stormy exchanges from the benches, with both Stagg and Krick pulling out all the stops to get their forecasts approved.

— Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026