as in reaction
a strong public response against something
There was swift backlash to the senator's controversial comments.
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Recent Examples of backlash
In Ohio, lawmakers previously explored using unclaimed funds to help finance a new Cleveland Browns stadium, prompting backlash and legal challenges.
—
Richard Ramos, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
When the costs of growth are widely distributed and the benefits are concentrated, political and legal backlash follows.
—Nicolas S. Rohatyn, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
There’s no doubt that the online backlash was swift and laugh-out-loud funny, the worst kind of insult to a man who sees himself as endowed with otherworldly powers.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Trump deleted the image amid backlash.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backlash
Richard Ramos, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
When the costs of growth are widely distributed and the benefits are concentrated, political and legal backlash follows.
—Nicolas S. Rohatyn, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
There’s no doubt that the online backlash was swift and laugh-out-loud funny, the worst kind of insult to a man who sees himself as endowed with otherworldly powers.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026
Trump deleted the image amid backlash.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backlash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backlash
reaction
Noun
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San Francisco's iconic Fisherman's Wharf, which draws tourists from around the globe, has been garnering some mixed reactions from visitors.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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The Maywood community’s reaction to the loss of Company B began out of grief and frustration over a lack of information.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backlash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backlash. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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