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
Running for judge two years ago, Peffer told the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board of the need to rebuild trust and confidence in the courts, but her efforts backfired spectacularly.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
When Pages replaced Edman in center, Roberts had again made a move that backfired in another ninth inning of another Game 7.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
But according to neuroscientist and former teacher Jared Cooney Horvath, the approach may have backfired.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
In the end, the proposal backfired, as residents who harbored little interest in black flags began hoisting them as an assertion of their freedom of speech.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
But that strategy appears to have backfired.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
If the angle is right, there’s a resounding crack like the sound of a car that’s backfired.
—Literary Hub, 16 Feb. 2026
Gang Green was severely lacking after the Fields’ signing backfired on them.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
When has being outspoken backfired for you in any way?
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2026
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
When Pages replaced Edman in center, Roberts had again made a move that backfired in another ninth inning of another Game 7.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
But according to neuroscientist and former teacher Jared Cooney Horvath, the approach may have backfired.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
In the end, the proposal backfired, as residents who harbored little interest in black flags began hoisting them as an assertion of their freedom of speech.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
But that strategy appears to have backfired.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
If the angle is right, there’s a resounding crack like the sound of a car that’s backfired.
—Literary Hub, 16 Feb. 2026
Gang Green was severely lacking after the Fields’ signing backfired on them.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
When has being outspoken backfired for you in any way?
—Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfired
Verb
-
In October, the company’s stock collapsed to less than $1 per share after a debt deal, down from its peak of nearly $235 per share in 2019.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
When the old order collapsed, Iran’s networks were ready.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His hair flopped greasily over his ears.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Jokic either fell or flopped — depending on who tells it — over the top of George four minutes into the game when the burgeoning Utah star tried the maneuver.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The wild part is how quickly that creator theme boomeranged back at us in real time.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
16 Dec. 2025
-
The most blatant of those on Sunday was Kelce converting a great opportunity into a play that boomeranged the other way.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backfired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfired. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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