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

Accurate public health campaign messages have failed and even backfired when trying to curb binge drinking on college campuses and adolescent drug use. — Jessica Fishman, STAT, 10 Nov. 2026

The number of seats lost in the House and Senate for the incumbent party will likely turn out to be nearly double the average for such off-year elections (despite all the Republican gerrymandering, almost all of which backfired). — Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026

What readers are saying The comments reflect a strong sentiment against Republican gerrymandering efforts, which many believe backfired, leading to unexpected Democratic gains. — Clara Ence Morse, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2026

Their efforts to engineer more favorable House districts in Florida, Alabama, and Texas backfired, with Democrats winning most or all of them. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026

However, attempts to overhaul district seats in favor of a GOP candidate backfired; in fact, Texas Republicans now will have one less seat in the House come January. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Flick had rested Rodri against PSG to keep him fresh for the Real Madrid clash, but that decision backfired with both games ending in defeats. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026

Analysts say this political fragmentation, which led to the paralysis of parliament after snap elections called by Macron in 2024 backfired, is likely to persist – and is at the core of France’s deepening crisis. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2026

Her emphasis on makeup, bathing and house chores quickly backfired, because she was seen as promoting old-fashioned gender roles and excessive working hours that have long been considered problems in Japan. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026