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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfiring
Verb
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Already too much of Havana – a once beautiful city now littered with debris from buildings collapsing under years of neglect – looks like a war zone.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
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The demonstrations began in late December in response to the collapsing value of the national currency -- the rial -- before morphing into a wider anti-regime movement which drew backing from dissidents abroad and Western governments.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stiller’s character attempts to match the athletic feat in a heated rage by climbing high and belly-flopping right onto a drum kit as the music powers on.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
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Perspectives 🏁 The viral video of a Kansas referee seemingly flopping during a high school girl’s basketball game is a bad look.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfiring. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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