BACKGROUNDS Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

backgrounds

noun

plural of background

as in backdrops

the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed they got married on a mountain top with the sunset as background

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in settings

the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set the background of that movie is the World War II era

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 backgrounds Join us for our third CNBC Pro LIVE, where investors of all backgrounds - from financial professionals to everyday individuals - come together to cut through the noise and gain actionable strategies for smarter, more disciplined investing. —

Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 13 May 2026 Frame Assist WayShot’s frame assist technology addresses compositional friction like awkward headroom, cluttered backgrounds, and uneven framing. —

Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 12 May 2026 His earliest mature paintings, often filled with snarling creatures arranged in chaotic formations, started to include monochromatic backgrounds that became a staple in his art. —

Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 May 2026 On the page, men of different ages, backgrounds and locations are featured as potential matches for her followers. —

Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026 Opened in 2019 by owners Keith and Jennifer Swiryn, the Sacramento natives combine their culinary and hospitality backgrounds for a vibrant dining experience. —

Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026 Their big families, Catholic education, and backgrounds that were far from flush helped build the kinship. —

Shawn Tully, Fortune, 6 May 2026 What are each of your backgrounds in music and how does that influence your ways of discovering new artists? —

Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 5 May 2026 Founded in 2013 by Mark Launiu, Vu Nguyen and Jesse Phouangphet, the brand reflects a convergence of cultural backgrounds. —

Kansas City Star, 4 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backgrounds

Noun

There are homages galore, as well as savvy throwback flourishes — from an extensive use of matte backdrops to, good news for TV Glow fans, extensive glimpses of the original (and, OK, fictitious) Camp Miasma — that only enhance the thornier social commentary.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
For McQuoid, that appears to mean making a film devoid of color, shooting the incoherent fight sequences against murky backdrops, and treating the origin story of secondary protagonist Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) with the solemnity of a biblical reading.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 May 2026