backfires 1 of 2

verb

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

backfires

2 of 2

noun

plural of backfire
as in forest fires

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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
Verb
Standardize Financial Outputs Trying to force every product line, regional team or acquired business into a single rigid operational process usually backfires. — Kashif Saleem, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Why coffee on an empty stomach backfires Pouring coffee into an empty stomach speeds absorption and sharpens the eventual fall. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026 Boston Bruins The Bruins have an average at best roster and farm system, and trying to win while rebuilding on the fly is something that usually backfires more often than leading to a contending team. — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 But, sure enough, the wish backfires as Nikki is driven completely insane by her love for him. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026 Continue reading … WORD PROBLEMS — El-Sayed's threat against GOP rival backfires as conservatives bring receipts. — FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 But a brand that states its conclusion boldly without backing it up may find that the same trick backfires. — Matthew Pittman, The Conversation, 17 July 2026 Chopper 4 footage showed large flames burning through trees near the turnpike as crews lit backfires—a tactic used to extinguish a wildfire by burning fuel ahead of the approaching fire line. — Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 19 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfires
  1. collapses
  2. wildfires
  3. flops
  4. bonfires
Verb
  • Some songs are difficult to follow without lyric sheets in hand, and even then, the internal logic collapses, baiting you in with coherent ideas before going in another direction.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The roots infiltrate through tiny joints or cracks, expand from inside, and the pipe collapses gradually.
    — Steven John, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of collapses
Noun
  • And dry forests and parched soils significantly increase the likelihood and severity of wildfires.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Universal Studios Hollywood came in at number 16 on the global list, down 8% to an even eight million visitors in 2025, affected in part by the aftermath of wildfires in Los Angeles.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of wildfires
Verb
  • The importance of competition There are three specific reasons why vote buying usually flops.
    — Kenneth Greene, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In Bait, Ahmed stars as struggling actor Shah Latif, who flops in his audition to play James Bond and then becomes consumed by the quest to become the first Pakistani 007.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of flops
Noun
  • The arc of this feud is now well known to all and will no doubt be shaped into the epic poetry our descendants recite in front of bonfires long after our civilization collapses.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • That night, bonfires were set for a party that lasted into the morning.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of bonfires

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backfired
backfires
backfiring
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Cite this Entry

“Backfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfires. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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