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

Attempts to prevent the march backfired, broadening the movement. — Aqil Shah, Time, 17 Aug. 2026

Maybe green mana only backfired on the initial spell, but residual energy processed as planned. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

The firm had accumulated sizable stakes in AI infrastructure companies while betting against software stocks, a strategy that backfired as software shares rallied and AI hardware names slumped. — Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026

But that plan backfired and has succeeded only in drawing attention to the 18 dead Americans. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 3 Aug. 2026

Then the team didn’t make any serious additions at the 2024 deadline even though the Twins were contending for a wild-card spot, a decision that backfired when a club that was 70-53 collapsed, losing 29 of 41 games and missing the playoffs. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

But Beijing’s pressure backfired by instigating broader public support for her leadership. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2026

This strategy helped her and also backfired with a firm that did not want to humanize the process. — John M. O'Connor, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Previous leadership had bet on returning GE to its industrial roots via equipment for gas, steam, and other forms of power generation, but the pivot backfired as energy demand fell short and wind and solar grabbed share. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 July 2026