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
Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Basil, of course, is far from perfect, a rude, neurotic, accident-prone manager who insults guests, hides his gambling winnings from his wife and organizes an elaborate impersonation of her when his surprise anniversary party backfires.
—Rhett Bartlett, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Showing Up’s potentially myopic perspective contrasts significantly from Reichardt’s Night Moves, a film about radical white environmental activists whose designs of blowing up a dam backfires, causing their inept leader Josh (Jesse Eisenberg) to erratically cover his tracks.
—Robert Daniels, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
The attempt has sparked debate, however, over the possibility of what’s often called a dummymander, in which a gerrymander backfires.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
When a truck backfires on the street outside her office, a colleague is spooked, but Ziva stays perfectly calm — a moment that gains added importance soon enough.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
But Fukuyama warned that getting too close to political figures often backfires.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
Gabriel swaps Arj’s life with a wealthy venture capitalist, Jeff (Seth Rogen), but the plan backfires when Arj is convinced his newfound wealth has, in fact, solved all his problems.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Basil, of course, is far from perfect, a rude, neurotic, accident-prone manager who insults guests, hides his gambling winnings from his wife and organizes an elaborate impersonation of her when his surprise anniversary party backfires.
—Rhett Bartlett, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Showing Up’s potentially myopic perspective contrasts significantly from Reichardt’s Night Moves, a film about radical white environmental activists whose designs of blowing up a dam backfires, causing their inept leader Josh (Jesse Eisenberg) to erratically cover his tracks.
—Robert Daniels, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
The attempt has sparked debate, however, over the possibility of what’s often called a dummymander, in which a gerrymander backfires.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2025
When a truck backfires on the street outside her office, a colleague is spooked, but Ziva stays perfectly calm — a moment that gains added importance soon enough.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
But Fukuyama warned that getting too close to political figures often backfires.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfires
Verb
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Voids can contribute to sinkholes as the ground collapses into the underlying cavities.—
Stuart Dyos,
Nashville Tennessean,
11 Nov. 2025
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The New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on Monday after a 2-8 start to the 2025 NFL season and a string of fourth-quarter collapses that left ownership exhausted and fans demanding change.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
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At one point, Alex comes over to recheck his map and, seeing Rizo attempt to analyze his work, flops over on the puzzle, causing Rizo to pause.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In more recent years, fire policies have been based mostly in suppression, researchers say, which have led to bigger wildfires.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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All active wildfires are shown.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Do not smoke, use flashlights, or light bonfires at night.—
Carolyn Forché,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Get your patio ready for football watch parties, cozy bonfires, and cool morning coffee dates with furniture from Better Homes & Gardens' new Ezra Patio Collection at Walmart.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfires. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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