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
Trump’s plans for Nvidia chips backfired Trump has not yet commented on Nvidia’s plans in Taiwan, but the US president has repeatedly praised Huang as brilliant, while consulting with Huang on AI industry and tariff questions.
—
Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026
The move backfired on Nexstar as a federal judge in Northern California issued a preliminary injunction, ordering Nexstar to halt the Tegna consolidation.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
But the club chose Liam Rosenior to replace him, and that backfired badly.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Macron’s highest aspirations to, as a modern Talleyrand, inject himself and solve global issues such as Ukraine, Africa’s Sahel, Syria, Lebanon, or Iran have fallen short, degenerated into petty feuds, or backfired.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024-25 season, getting Anthony Davis as the centerpiece in a deal that backfired badly on the franchise.
—CBS News, 20 May 2026
Progressives getting behind Campa-Najjar say that pro-Israel groups spending on von Wilpert’s behalf has backfired.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 May 2026
The Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024-25 season, getting Anthony Davis as the centerpiece in a deal that backfired badly on the franchise.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
Virginia Republican strategist Brian Kirwin said Democrats’ attempt to fast-track the referendum ultimately backfired.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026
The move backfired on Nexstar as a federal judge in Northern California issued a preliminary injunction, ordering Nexstar to halt the Tegna consolidation.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
But the club chose Liam Rosenior to replace him, and that backfired badly.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 26 May 2026
Macron’s highest aspirations to, as a modern Talleyrand, inject himself and solve global issues such as Ukraine, Africa’s Sahel, Syria, Lebanon, or Iran have fallen short, degenerated into petty feuds, or backfired.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024-25 season, getting Anthony Davis as the centerpiece in a deal that backfired badly on the franchise.
—CBS News, 20 May 2026
Progressives getting behind Campa-Najjar say that pro-Israel groups spending on von Wilpert’s behalf has backfired.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 May 2026
The Mavericks traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024-25 season, getting Anthony Davis as the centerpiece in a deal that backfired badly on the franchise.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
Virginia Republican strategist Brian Kirwin said Democrats’ attempt to fast-track the referendum ultimately backfired.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfired
Verb
-
Following the 2008 financial crisis, several of Spain’s major industries collapsed, the unemployment rate soared to 27 percent, and the banking system entered such a vicious cycle that not even the Spanish government could afford to rescue it (hence, the EU bailout).—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
-
Revenue grew, but margins collapsed and management became chaotic.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Caruso had one of the greatest games of his career, but everyone else flopped.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
-
As in most insurance company failures, PHL flopped for several reasons.—
Gretchen Morgenson,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Mary, our thirtysomething narrator, has recently boomeranged back to her hometown (York) after experiencing a break with reality that may or may not be psychotic.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
The ball skidded though the green, banged off the Truist fencing and boomeranged right back into the same bunker.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfired. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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