Synonyms of backfired

backfired

verb

past tense of backfire

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapsed
• flopped
• boomeranged
• folded
• struggled
• floundered
• slipped
• waned
• flunked
• washed out
• slumped
• declined

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• succeeded
• flourished
• prospered
• thrived

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of backfired

Their efforts to engineer more favorable House districts in Florida, Alabama, and Texas backfired, with Democrats winning most or all of them. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026

Flick had rested Rodri against PSG to keep him fresh for the Real Madrid clash, but that decision backfired with both games ending in defeats. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026

And there are signs the rejiggering of political lines may have backfired, or boomeranged, on the GOP. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Analysts say this political fragmentation, which led to the paralysis of parliament after snap elections called by Macron in 2024 backfired, is likely to persist – and is at the core of France’s deepening crisis. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2026

Her emphasis on makeup, bathing and house chores quickly backfired, because she was seen as promoting old-fashioned gender roles and excessive working hours that have long been considered problems in Japan. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Another man is pulling back after one of his AI photos backfired. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

The decision backfired, as Rams kicker Harrison Mevis’s 48-yard game-winning field goal attempt was blocked by defensive end Greg Rousseau — much to the relief of Cook. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026

What’s worse, some of its efforts to repair those downward trends have backfired, Fortune’s Phil Wahba reports. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026