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
And there are hopes that some of the redistricting in Texas, based on a Latino shift, would end up backfiring on Republicans.
—
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
This is a backfiring gift to Milei’s opponents.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
James is one of them, though his kindly attempts to be there for Linda, as amateur repairman and reluctant babysitter, have a way of backfiring, usually on himself.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
Why is Trump’s dealmaking backfiring so spectacularly?
—Vivek Viswanathan, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Still, some economists say the administration’s chaotic trade strategy is backfiring in at least two ways.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Propping up unpopular regional governments risks backfiring on Gulf Arab leaders in one of two ways.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
However, with the growth of social media and consumer advocacy, retailers are being more cautious about communications to prevent backfiring, not only from investors and analysts but from their core customer base.
—Shelley E. Kohan, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Yet his effort to divide the West is backfiring.
—Kay Bailey Hutchison, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
This is a backfiring gift to Milei’s opponents.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
James is one of them, though his kindly attempts to be there for Linda, as amateur repairman and reluctant babysitter, have a way of backfiring, usually on himself.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
Why is Trump’s dealmaking backfiring so spectacularly?
—Vivek Viswanathan, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Still, some economists say the administration’s chaotic trade strategy is backfiring in at least two ways.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Propping up unpopular regional governments risks backfiring on Gulf Arab leaders in one of two ways.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
However, with the growth of social media and consumer advocacy, retailers are being more cautious about communications to prevent backfiring, not only from investors and analysts but from their core customer base.
—Shelley E. Kohan, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Yet his effort to divide the West is backfiring.
—Kay Bailey Hutchison, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfiring
Verb
-
Reservoirs supplying Tehran and other urban centers have dropped to critically low levels, while agricultural production in the nation’s most fertile regions is collapsing, threatening food security and rural livelihoods.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Dorzon had been shot 11 times and his girlfriend had also been hit, collapsing on the front lawn.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In the video, the mako shark bursts from the water and lands on the bow of the boat, flopping around before coming to rest near the front of the vessel.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Van Gogh, now visually fitting in with his family, then scampered about his habitat with his ears flopping along with him.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backfiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfiring. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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