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
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
Rahm’s late leap to LIV, in what appeared to be a strategic move to force the PGA Tour and LIV to reconcile, backfired.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 14 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
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
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
Rahm’s late leap to LIV, in what appeared to be a strategic move to force the PGA Tour and LIV to reconcile, backfired.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 14 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfired
Verb
-
Although Detroit collapsed in the second round, the front office’s confidence in Bickerstaff, who signed a contract extension the day after the Pistons ousted the Orlando Magic in the first round, hasn’t wavered.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
Decker collapsed during a training exercise on Thursday afternoon in the 6600 block of North Kedzie Avenue in West Rogers Park.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
That flopped, as have all subsequent attempts to protect nature permanently and on a large scale through the use of markets.—
John Reid,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
Rick Pitino, Billy Donovan, Brad Stevens, Fred Hoiberg, John Calipari, Tim Floyd, Lon Kruger, Mike Montgomery, Leonard Hamilton all left college to try the NBA, and most flopped.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Those lower judges eventually rejected his arguments, and Reed boomeranged back to the justices.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfired. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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