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
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
Essence, 26 Jan. 2026
Furniture Flat Against the Wall Trying to make a room feel larger by lining furniture along the perimeter often backfires.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 14 Jan. 2026
That plan almost always backfires, though.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
This often backfires, triggering gaslighting, denial, or escalation.
—Shadé Zahrai, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
But according to Button, this shortcut often backfires.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 2 Jan. 2026
When her grandmother’s old love spell backfires, Dassy is unexpectedly juggling four suitors from her past and present.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 30 Nov. 2025
Verb
Early escalation without documentation often backfires.
—Essence, 26 Jan. 2026
Furniture Flat Against the Wall Trying to make a room feel larger by lining furniture along the perimeter often backfires.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 14 Jan. 2026
That plan almost always backfires, though.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
This often backfires, triggering gaslighting, denial, or escalation.
—Shadé Zahrai, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
But according to Button, this shortcut often backfires.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 2 Jan. 2026
When her grandmother’s old love spell backfires, Dassy is unexpectedly juggling four suitors from her past and present.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfires
Verb
-
The video ends as Chakraborty collapses onto a couch and groans in pain with the officer continuing to yell at him to drop the knife.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Perhaps owner Bob Nutting will intercede and order general manager Ben Cherington to sign McCutchen, fearing yet another public relations nightmare if the team’s relationship with a franchise legend collapses.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately for shareholders, the stock grants come with a feature similar to equity options that somewhat reduces Musk’s payday, especially in a case like the one above where the plan flops.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Nov. 2025
-
Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Insurance companies have restricted business and dropped large numbers of California customers in recent years due to losses from past wildfires and concerns about the rising risks of major ones in the future.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Chronic exposure to pollution from wildfires has been linked to tens of thousands of deaths annually in the United States, according to a new study.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sounds of gunfire had faded; there were no new bonfires.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
-
In Iran’s capital, Tehran, witnesses said recent mornings showed no new signs of bonfires lit the night before or debris in the streets.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfires. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
