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
Virginia Republican strategist Brian Kirwin said Democrats’ attempt to fast-track the referendum ultimately backfired.
—
Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
If true, that approach backfired.
—Zack Cox, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
The move appears to have backfired, spurring voters in California and, last week, Virginia to redraw their state’s political maps to more than offset Texas and boost Democrats in November.
—Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Left Arrow Right Arrow Another candid confession from Jerry O’Connell backfired fast as critics seized on the actor’s remarks about his teenage daughters’ partying and vaping habits.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
And so far, the top team's choice has backfired, including last year, when Montreal opted to play third-place Ottawa and lost the series in four games.
—CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
The move appears to have backfired, spurring voters in California and, last week, Virginia to redraw their state’s political maps to more than offset Texas and boost Democrats in November.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
In July 1998, Victoria Keenan and her son Jason were driving near a white supremacist compound in northern Idaho when the car backfired or stalled.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Cut to today and the previous White House’s rationale has backfired.
—Elaine Parker, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
If true, that approach backfired.
—Zack Cox, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
The move appears to have backfired, spurring voters in California and, last week, Virginia to redraw their state’s political maps to more than offset Texas and boost Democrats in November.
—Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Left Arrow Right Arrow Another candid confession from Jerry O’Connell backfired fast as critics seized on the actor’s remarks about his teenage daughters’ partying and vaping habits.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
And so far, the top team's choice has backfired, including last year, when Montreal opted to play third-place Ottawa and lost the series in four games.
—CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
The move appears to have backfired, spurring voters in California and, last week, Virginia to redraw their state’s political maps to more than offset Texas and boost Democrats in November.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
In July 1998, Victoria Keenan and her son Jason were driving near a white supremacist compound in northern Idaho when the car backfired or stalled.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Cut to today and the previous White House’s rationale has backfired.
—Elaine Parker, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfired
Verb
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His 69-year-old wife was transferred to South Africa at the same time but collapsed at a Johannesburg airport and died at a nearby hospital, the South African Department of Health said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
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His wife later collapsed and died at Johannesburg’s international airport while attempting to return home.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Under Cook, the company has become less surprising but massively financially successful; some of Apple’s newer products have flopped or underperformed, but far more have become and stayed excellent thanks to years of competent iteration.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Cuomo’s podcast and mayoral bid flopped.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Those lower judges eventually rejected his arguments, and Reed boomeranged back to the justices.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The wild part is how quickly that creator theme boomeranged back at us in real time.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backfired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfired. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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