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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in forest fire
Related 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 backfire
Julia Mueller, The Hill, 3 Aug. 2025
After his attack on Ted backfires and Louise leaves him to follow a budding cult leader, Vernon Jefferson Peak (Austin Butler), Joe begins to spiral.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 18 July 2025
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Stretching into cross-functional teams is critical for visibility and growth—but overstepping can quickly backfire.
—Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Verb
There’s also a chance that Lone Star State redistricting backfires on Republicans.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 3 Aug. 2025
After his attack on Ted backfires and Louise leaves him to follow a budding cult leader, Vernon Jefferson Peak (Austin Butler), Joe begins to spiral.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 18 July 2025
Noun
Instead, the gamble backfired, producing a fragmented legislature with no dominant bloc for the first time in France's modern republic.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Stretching into cross-functional teams is critical for visibility and growth—but overstepping can quickly backfire.
—Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfire
Verb
-
By this time, the Soviet Union had collapsed, leading Manuylov to start a business in the candy trade.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Luckily, the airport had a failsafe in the form of a ground material designed to collapse under the plane's weight and stop it in its tracks.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The inflationary forest fire that many expected to see has yet to ignite.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The only safe way to get real fires was laying gas lines and creating gas burns, without releasing any particles in the air that would potentially cause a forest fire.—
Tomris Laffly,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Since this season’s halcyon days -- a weekend home sweep of the Yankees that got Miami even at 55-55 -- the Fish have flopped at 10-22 .—
Greg Cote
September 7,
Miami Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Cellphone bill flop prompts finger-pointing Hall seized on the vote breakdown as an example of Democratic lawmakers out of step with Whitmer and out of touch with public support for cellphone restrictions at school.—
Clara Hendrickson,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As of Saturday afternoon, 76% of the wildfire was brought under containment.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Evacuation orders have been announced for parts of Napa County, California as a wildfire continues to blaze through the area.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Forest walks, lazy lake days, midday swims, and evening bonfires are a part of your regular day.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Add in offbeat museums, thriving art and culinary scenes in Providence, and seasonal highlights like the WaterFire bonfires, and Rhode Island proves that small states can deliver big experiences.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At night, roast s’mores around a campfire, soak in the hot tub or stargaze.—
Jennifer Kester,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Each skillet is pre-seasoned with 100 percent vegetable oil and is suitable for use in the oven and on stovetops, grills—even over a campfire.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfire. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share