backfires 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of backfire
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

backfires

2 of 2

noun

plural of backfire

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backfires
Noun
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 However, Leila’s plan backfires, turning her into the latest enrollee. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 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
  • When the ceiling collapses in her Montauk apartment, she’s forced to move to a bleak low-rent motel.
    Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Ares instead collapses the two, transporting technology from the other universe—like the light cycle, a futuristic motorcycle that’s become a franchise icon—onto real-world streets.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • 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
  • Developed in collaboration with firefighters and landowners, Seneca claims its scalable aerial units will redefine how wildfires are detected, controlled, and contained in an era of growing climate risk.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Cattle farmers have urged lawmakers to support legislation aimed at reducing the risk of wildfires.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • When the sun began to set, fireworks, bonfires, and candles were lit throughout the city.
    Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Candlelight celebrations, bonfires, and ofrenda decorating occupy the night.
    Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 8 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfires. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on backfires

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!