as in collapsed
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
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Recent Examples of backfired
But despite the initial bonhomie, the decision to appoint Mandelson has backfired on Starmer spectacularly.
—
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
There were even marketing wars that sometimes backfired, as in 1994, when Owners Abroad promised a marketing blitz after rebranding to First Choice.
—Ian King, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
At the same time, Trump’s efforts to impose his will had backfired; in at least some parts of Brazilian society, the tariffs and the bullying rhetoric had made people more insistent that the country seek justice on its own terms.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
Philly's big deal for quarterback Carson Wentz backfired.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Not only has his presidency exacerbated the cost-of-living woes and political alienation that Le Pen and her allies thrive on, but his various attempts to assuage concerns over their most important cause—opposition to immigration—have backfired spectacularly.
—Cole Stangler, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
This almost backfired in the early 1970s, when oceanographer Jacques Cousteau came knocking.
—A.k. Whitney, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
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
Cracker Barrel's attempt to modernize its image, including a new logo and store designs, backfired spectacularly, causing widespread outrage and a $100 million stock loss.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
There were even marketing wars that sometimes backfired, as in 1994, when Owners Abroad promised a marketing blitz after rebranding to First Choice.
—Ian King, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
At the same time, Trump’s efforts to impose his will had backfired; in at least some parts of Brazilian society, the tariffs and the bullying rhetoric had made people more insistent that the country seek justice on its own terms.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
Philly's big deal for quarterback Carson Wentz backfired.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Not only has his presidency exacerbated the cost-of-living woes and political alienation that Le Pen and her allies thrive on, but his various attempts to assuage concerns over their most important cause—opposition to immigration—have backfired spectacularly.
—Cole Stangler, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
This almost backfired in the early 1970s, when oceanographer Jacques Cousteau came knocking.
—A.k. Whitney, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
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
Cracker Barrel's attempt to modernize its image, including a new logo and store designs, backfired spectacularly, causing widespread outrage and a $100 million stock loss.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfired
Verb
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Smith’s extended lunge was needed as Chapman’s throw barely beat Pages’ speed, but Smith instantly collapsed onto his side.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
14 Sep. 2025
-
As usual, Florida’s offense looked stagnant and rarely gave the sophomore quarterback good options before his pocket collapsed.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Between 1958 and 1978, 30 of the low-budget comedies were churned out (a revival in 1992 flopped), attracting millions of viewers worldwide.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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The strategy created momentum, but Llama 4 flopped when it was released in early April 2025—at which point, Pineau had already submitted her resignation.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backfired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfired. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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