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
Greenberg said those attacks backfired.
—
Nik Popli, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
In fact, that summit seemed initially to have backfired for Russia, with Trump growing increasingly frustrated with Moscow’s intransigence.
—Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
According to the report, Jeanie Buss soured on James after the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook in 2021, a move the team made to satisfy the superstar but one that backfired.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
But months later, the campaign to sanctify Kirk appears to have backfired in some ways.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
In a statement, Barr's campaign manager Blake Gober highlighted a recent poll backed by Democratic candidate Charles Booker that had Morris trailing his two Republican opponents and argued Morris' efforts to introduce himself to voters had backfired.
—Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Jan. 2026
But catering to its most fervent online supporters has also sometimes backfired on the administration.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 16 Jan. 2026
For San Diego police, DROP has at times backfired for staffing needs.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Some mushroom bills backfired when their true impacts became known, embarrassing legislators who voted for them, and forcing them to backtrack.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Nik Popli, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
In fact, that summit seemed initially to have backfired for Russia, with Trump growing increasingly frustrated with Moscow’s intransigence.
—Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
According to the report, Jeanie Buss soured on James after the Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook in 2021, a move the team made to satisfy the superstar but one that backfired.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
But months later, the campaign to sanctify Kirk appears to have backfired in some ways.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
In a statement, Barr's campaign manager Blake Gober highlighted a recent poll backed by Democratic candidate Charles Booker that had Morris trailing his two Republican opponents and argued Morris' efforts to introduce himself to voters had backfired.
—Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Jan. 2026
But catering to its most fervent online supporters has also sometimes backfired on the administration.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 16 Jan. 2026
For San Diego police, DROP has at times backfired for staffing needs.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Some mushroom bills backfired when their true impacts became known, embarrassing legislators who voted for them, and forcing them to backtrack.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfired
Verb
-
Photo by Anne Arundel County Fire Department In Harford County, crews rescued four cows, a bull and a horse after a barn collapsed.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Sutton said Minneapolis policing has collapsed since the 2020 unrest, noting the city is authorized for about 900 officers but now has roughly 550, with only around 265 patrol officers available to police the entire city.—
Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But within a day, the entire hypothesis flopped.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Before us, in a curtain of matte black against the vibrant green, a beautiful, enormous silverback lays flopped on his back surrounded by eight gorillas of all ages wrestling around him.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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