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
Rebecca Pryor, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2025
This week, David Christopher Kaufman explains why Trump’s first shot in the war on woke could backfire.
—airmail.news, 25 Jan. 2025
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2024
Red Bull had already rolled the dice with Sergio Pérez, who ran well outside of the points, and seen that backfire with the Mexican driver getting lapped by his teammate.
—Luke Smith, The Athletic, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for backfire 
Verb
The prosecution also called the request a delay tactic, arguing it was made after a seven-month trial postponement for the defense to review evidence — a strategy Morgan said may have backfired.
—Rebecca Pryor, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2025
This week, David Christopher Kaufman explains why Trump’s first shot in the war on woke could backfire.
—airmail.news, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
Could Neely’s bluntness backfire and further fray the hard feelings that seemingly go back to last year’s arbitration case?
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2024
Red Bull had already rolled the dice with Sergio Pérez, who ran well outside of the points, and seen that backfire with the Mexican driver getting lapped by his teammate.
—Luke Smith, The Athletic, 8 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for backfire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfire
Verb
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The wealthy were not allowed to simply hoard their wealth, park it in an offshore haven, and escape catastrophe by sailing away from a collapsing society on a superyacht.—
Brian Klaas,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
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Firefighters saw heavy flames and smoke coming from the second floor, and the house partially collapsed.—
Amy McDaniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Rangers don't have the best reputation for developing their prospects, but many of the young players that have flopped were homogenous assets that clogged up their organizational pipeline.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
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The Right Stuff Year: 1983 Running time: 3 hours 13 minutes Director: Philip Kaufman Years before Bonfire of the Vanities flopped, Hollywood had a much better time adapting Tom Wolfe, turning his nonfiction book about the Mercury program into a clear-eyed piece of Americana.—
Kevin Lincoln,
Vulture,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This year’s Grammy Awards celebrations were muted due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.—
Paul Chi,
Vogue,
2 Feb. 2025
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Rebuilding from the blazes Online tracker shows insurance payments to wildfire survivors.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In January, 2022, Friedman and Reese organized their first event—a bonfire at a local farm stand around the two-year anniversary of Finn’s death.—
Chelsea Edgar,
The New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2025
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One man in a shack made of wood and tarp reclined next to a roaring bonfire with flames several feet high.—
Tammy Murga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Dean enjoyed many outdoor activities including fishing, camping and campfires with his family at the lake in Deerwood.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
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The two drove to a homeless encampment and encountered 28-year-old Brian Racine asleep next to a campfire.—
Leah Goodridge,
TIME,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near backfire
Cite this Entry
“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfire. Accessed 15 Feb. 2025.
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