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2
3
as in backward
toward the rear
concert security asked the crowd to move back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in jugular
a vulnerable point
a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to advocate
to promote the interests or cause of
she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to aid
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea)
the author needs to back her thesis with more facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hind
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part
she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of back
P. Claire Dodson, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Almost every gallery and store had wheelchair entry, retrofitted into eighteenth-century infrastructure in ways that would trigger decades-long preservation battles back in the UK.
—Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Jan. 2026
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Hilton previously used her platform to back a different piece of legislation, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, which was passed into law in December 2024.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
In addition, Heat guard Norman Powell is questionable for Wednesday’s matchup against the Magic after playing through low back tightness in the last few games.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
That return has coexisted with her starring role on Shrinking, which sees Maxwell play Alice, a high schooler grieving the sudden death of her mom and the emotional absence of her dad (Jason Segel), a therapist trying to get his life back together.
—P. Claire Dodson, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Almost every gallery and store had wheelchair entry, retrofitted into eighteenth-century infrastructure in ways that would trigger decades-long preservation battles back in the UK.
—Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
There’s also a storyline suggesting that the actual sale of the club took place behind the siblings’ backs, with some of them wondering if there couldn’t have been a better deal.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
Councilmembers Sean Elo-Rivera and Kent Lee, who initially backed the fees, urged Gloria to pause them until the kinks are worked out of the system.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Hilton previously used her platform to back a different piece of legislation, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, which was passed into law in December 2024.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
If a production company sells its back catalog or future content to an AI training company for training large language models (LLMs), then Equity wants all members who appear in this footage to receive a payout.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Jan. 2026
In addition, Heat guard Norman Powell is questionable for Wednesday’s matchup against the Magic after playing through low back tightness in the last few games.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
Many see him as a live threat to Muratalla's belt, and a win would put him on the fast track Lomachenko blazed years ago.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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Transcripts from nearly a century ago show a city meeting where concerns were voiced about sharp pieces of wood on the south ramp of the pier causing injury to beachgoers who were seeking first aid, sweeping currents pushing people into the pier and trash left behind by the influx of visitors.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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That would put a dent in downtown’s office vacancy rate, which has hovered around 38% lately, according to CBRE.—
Jon Murray,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
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But even though modern-day antidepressants have been around for decades — the Food and Drug Administration approved Prozac for depression treatment in 1987 — there is very little information about long-term use.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The service Service here is top notch, with the front desk and concierge bending over backwards to make guests happy.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
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All that progress rolls backward if males can take spots on both men’s and women’s teams; this torpedoes Title IX and hijacks women’s sports.—
Alanna Smith,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Runabout’s super-low nose rises up toward the roll-hoop rear.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The Icemag 3’s small fan on its rear quickly blows away any extra heat build-up, enabling the phone to charge quickly while remaining at a safe temperature, even when it’s being used a lot.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The actress manages to pull this off with subtlety and grace in a movie that could have easily gone straight for the emotional jugular.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
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Two months before Twilight kicked off the glittery vampire craze, Alan Ball’s True Blood had already put an original, sexy spin on the jugular-draining genre.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Vance, a Republican, has spent years passionately advocating for Americans to have more children.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
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That policy, however, has come under political pressure with prominent names including Takaichi advocating for softer rates to fuel economic growth.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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She was also charged with concealing and aiding a fugitive, but that charge was later dropped.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Choose Iowa gives food banks more options A state program bringing together farmers and consumers also has played a role in aiding food banks.—
F. Amanda Tugade,
Des Moines Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Takaichi has called an election on February 8 in a bid to reinforce her mandate on a range of policies, potentially including her tougher stance on China, having secured the office by winning an internal contest among her Liberal Democratic Party in October.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
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Their choices can either reinforce harms or reduce them.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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