as in collapsing
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 backfiring
Maura Healey, posing with a powerful weapon in her hands, joins a long list of pols whose political pandering to hunters and gun owners could end up backfiring.
—
Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
But, more than that, there’s a danger for the governor of this advertising campaign backfiring.
—Larry Wilson, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Tehran's aim with the missile and drone fire has likely been to pressure the Gulf's monarchies to push their allies in Washington to end the war, but the Iranian calculus appears to be backfiring.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The result is an eventual cough that produces a sound comparable to a car backfiring through a bag of gelatine.
—Alexis Wilkinson, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
So this scatter gun, almost machine gun, offensive by the Iranians seems to be backfiring.
—Yarden Segev, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
But what strikes me also is that this is backfiring.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, on the opposing sideline, Broncos coach Sean Payton came under fire for a fourth-down call that ended up backfiring.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But Wednesday’s report about the parking fees quickly backfiring should turn this melancholy into fury.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
But, more than that, there’s a danger for the governor of this advertising campaign backfiring.
—Larry Wilson, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Tehran's aim with the missile and drone fire has likely been to pressure the Gulf's monarchies to push their allies in Washington to end the war, but the Iranian calculus appears to be backfiring.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The result is an eventual cough that produces a sound comparable to a car backfiring through a bag of gelatine.
—Alexis Wilkinson, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
So this scatter gun, almost machine gun, offensive by the Iranians seems to be backfiring.
—Yarden Segev, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
But what strikes me also is that this is backfiring.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, on the opposing sideline, Broncos coach Sean Payton came under fire for a fourth-down call that ended up backfiring.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But Wednesday’s report about the parking fees quickly backfiring should turn this melancholy into fury.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfiring
Verb
-
The team had the best record in the major leagues as recently as June 13 of last season before collapsing and missing the postseason — a collapse that still stings for fans.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The beach patrol headquarters is in danger of collapsing and will be demolished this weekend.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Girlfriend scales the diaristic, bric-a-brac charm of Janky Star into a high-drama pop monument to trying, flopping, and trying even harder next time.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
20 Mar. 2026
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Cutting stems back by one-third their height will help plants resist flopping under the weight of the flowers.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfiring. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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