as in collapses
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 backfires
Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Obsession shows how Bear’s selfish wish removes Nikki’s agency and backfires horribly, destroying his life and eroding Nikki’s sense of self.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The acting attorney general's attempt to answer those questions backfires.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
Alcohol as a sleep aid backfires by reducing REM sleep and worsening overall sleep quality.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Aggressive grout scrubbing is another well-meaning habit that backfires.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
As Mars meets resistance from Jupiter, trying to handle everything at once backfires.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Back on the boy-toy front, Deborah’s PR stunt backfires both personally and professionally.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026
The system can also be triggered by sounds like fireworks, car backfires or construction noise and has been criticized for focusing police attention on low-income communities with non-white residents.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
When C-suite talk backfires The very political job of leading a company requires an agile communication style and the ability to quickly tailor language and messaging to meet the moment at hand.
—Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Obsession shows how Bear’s selfish wish removes Nikki’s agency and backfires horribly, destroying his life and eroding Nikki’s sense of self.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The acting attorney general's attempt to answer those questions backfires.
—ABC News, 24 May 2026
Alcohol as a sleep aid backfires by reducing REM sleep and worsening overall sleep quality.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Aggressive grout scrubbing is another well-meaning habit that backfires.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
As Mars meets resistance from Jupiter, trying to handle everything at once backfires.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Back on the boy-toy front, Deborah’s PR stunt backfires both personally and professionally.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026
The system can also be triggered by sounds like fireworks, car backfires or construction noise and has been criticized for focusing police attention on low-income communities with non-white residents.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfires
Verb
-
When a star dies and collapses, its mass is concentrated into an unimaginably dense point.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 June 2026
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Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper need to hit their open threes as the Knicks' defense collapses.—
David Troy OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in f—ing basketball history, flops.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
One of the best bigs in [expletive] basketball history flops.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The new findings add to concerns about the toxic fallout left behind by the most destructive wildfires in Southern California’s recent history.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Until just a few years ago, my wife and I didn’t have air conditioning, but smoke from wildfires combined with hot temperatures prompted us to install a heat pump with split units in our living room, bedroom and guest room to keep our home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Noun
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That’s where the whole family can take a dip in the Pacific Ocean, rent paddleboards and kayaks, take surfing lessons, and enjoy seasonal beach bonfires complete with gourmet s’mores kits.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
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Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls Summer brings swimmers, bikers, and other outdoors enthusiasts to this popular four-season resort; in winter, ski lifts transform into scenic rides, and families enjoy Saturday night bonfires with s'mores.—
Jess Hoffert,
Midwest Living,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfires. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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