BACKS Synonyms: 133 Similar and Opposite Words

backs 1 of 2

noun

plural of back

as in rears

a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank

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as in soft spots

a vulnerable point a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back

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backs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of back

as in endorses

to promote the interests or cause of she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in aids

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

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as in reinforces

to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) the author needs to back her thesis with more facts

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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 backs

Noun

Treatments lean practical and recovery-focused, with deep-tissue and sports massages that zero in on quads, hips, and lower backs after long ski days. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2026 Gibbs and McCaffrey reach TD milestones Two of the NFL’s most dynamic running backs reached impressive milestones. — Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026 The top-two backs in rushing yards — Bijan Robinson and Kenneth Walker — face off. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2026 Ocean View’s ground attack, which incorporates the single-wing, also features senior backs Gregory Gates (577 yards) and Dylan Morales (444 yards), and quarterback Isaac Young. — Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 Nov. 2026 Cutforth found a wide-open Riley with a simple swing pass out to the left, giving the junior running back plenty of space to showcase his speed and beat several Rams defensive backs to find the end zone. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Nov. 2026 The offensive line was also able to open up holes for the running backs. — Jonathan M. Alexander, Houston Chronicle, 8 Nov. 2026 But Bucky Irving has been among the league’s top running backs. — Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026 That’s because the offensive line dominated and the running backs were unstoppable. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

Verb

Kansas City residents are strong in their sports fandom, and a new national study backs them up. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 11 Nov. 2026 The committee also backs Proposition 42, which would write a ban on new taxes on financial assets into the state constitution. — Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026 The Chicago Federation of Labor, along with several influential unions, still backs Amtrak’s plan. — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026 The fund backs film, TV and other programs at the project level. — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026 Both candidates were supported by 314 Action, a political action committee that backs candidates with scientific expertise. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026 In the eyes of opponents, the facilities—and the powerful AI industry that backs them—have come to represent an attack on their safety, jobs, pocketbooks, and quality of life. — Naomi Nix, Time, 29 Oct. 2026 Americhem’s acquisition of Noble Biomaterials was supported by Pritzker Private Capital (PPC), which backs a range of companies including other chemical producers such as Buckman, which works with the leather industry. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026 Faulk was named Southern University’s head coach in November 2025 after serving as Colorado’s running backs coach under Deion Sanders earlier that year. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs

Noun

Black renders the majority of the sneaker, but red rears its head again through speckling on the midsole, TPU flyplate, full medial Swoosh and lining.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
The 39-year-old, who has been arrested multiple times in Burbank and Glendale, was taken into custody on suspicion of violating terms of his probation from a previous arrest linked to sniffing women’s rears.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of rears

Noun

Avoid using onions with any soft spots, sprouts, or signs of decay or discoloration.

— Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
Fagnano was able to diagnose some of the disguises from Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, finding soft spots in zone coverages both in the short and intermediate areas of the field.

— Daniel Popper, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of soft spots

Verb

Five Democratic House members, including three from Texas, are among the 13 co-sponsors of the bill that endorses mass balance accounting.

— Lisa Song, ProPublica, 29 Oct. 2026
The organization has a political arm, CAIR Action, which lists candidates in 39 states and whether the group opposes, remains neutral, prefers or endorses individuals based on how well the candidate aligns with CAIR Action’s priorities.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of endorses

Verb

This process aids in the development of classic sparkling wine flavors such as shortbread, brioche, and crème fraiche as well as a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and a sense of opulence.

— Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2026
The waiver gives the studio permission to create a duplicate of an actor in costume, which aids in VFX work during postproduction.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of aids

Verb

That pricing gap reinforces PSA's lead and gives its decisions about fees and submission services considerable influence over the resale market.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
Amnesty International reinforces this, highlighting that unequal power relations between men and women intensify during conflicts, as traditional gender roles are reinforced, making women increasingly vulnerable.

— Hannah Berner, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of reinforces

Noun

At one of the calf ranches, in San Bernardino County, Robert Drummond, a member of DxE’s Los Angeles chapter, filmed handlers who appear to be whipping frightened calves and pulling them by their tails.

— Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 11 Nov. 2026
After just a few generations, the foxes began to look and act more domesticated, with floppy ears, curly tails and an eagerness for human attention and love.

— Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of tails

Verb

Because of these treatment and research advances, the Alzheimer’s Association strongly advocates early detection and diagnosis.

— Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 11 Nov. 2026
The Missouri Craft Brewers Guild is a nonprofit that advocates for the independent breweries.

— Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 11 Nov. 2026