1
2
as in soft spots
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 endorses
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reinforces
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of backs
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026
Sierra Canyon senior Brannon Martinsen opened up the game with back-to-back offensive put-backs, a trend of the first half.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, this week, acknowledged to The Post that McMillian doesn’t hit the physical thresholds Denver sets for defensive backs.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Defensive line coach Mike Elston and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale could be among the internal candidates Hortiz spoke of.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
With Miami facing a second-and-3 from the Notre Dame 20-yard line, Daniels hauled in a pass from quarterback Carson Beck, leaping for a one-handed grab between a pair of Notre Dame defenders — defensive backs Adon Shuler and Leonard Moore — for a spectacular 20-yard touchdown.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
The Chiefs still need to hire a running backs coach to work under Bieniemy, and their top two backs — Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco — are due for unrestricted free agency.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
The waterside trees leaned far out over the currents, almost toppling into the river, as if being pushed by the exuberant growth at their backs.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
While at Chisholm Trail, Norris also contributed as a defensive backs coach for the football team.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2026
Rebecca Santana, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors say the court paperwork backs that up, pointing to Ryan Rates, the Uniontown man investigators believe was at the center of the operation involving at least four other people.
—Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Here’s the science that backs that up.
—Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said running backs coach Matt Merritt has a heavy say in those plans.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
UConn running backs coach Antonio Wilcox is expected to be the next running backs coach for the Horned Frogs, replacing Jimmy Smith, who is headed to Georgia Tech.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
Former running backs coach at South Carolina, Blackwell has been coaching since his playing career (QB) ended in 2006.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
Iran backs groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Decades of research backs this up.
—Fiona Ma, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
The 24-year-old succeeds against all three levels of the pass defense, blocks well against defensive backs and even front-seven defenders and runs for yards off jet-motion touches, screens and downfield passes.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026
Sierra Canyon senior Brannon Martinsen opened up the game with back-to-back offensive put-backs, a trend of the first half.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, this week, acknowledged to The Post that McMillian doesn’t hit the physical thresholds Denver sets for defensive backs.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Defensive line coach Mike Elston and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale could be among the internal candidates Hortiz spoke of.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
With Miami facing a second-and-3 from the Notre Dame 20-yard line, Daniels hauled in a pass from quarterback Carson Beck, leaping for a one-handed grab between a pair of Notre Dame defenders — defensive backs Adon Shuler and Leonard Moore — for a spectacular 20-yard touchdown.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
The Chiefs still need to hire a running backs coach to work under Bieniemy, and their top two backs — Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco — are due for unrestricted free agency.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
The waterside trees leaned far out over the currents, almost toppling into the river, as if being pushed by the exuberant growth at their backs.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
While at Chisholm Trail, Norris also contributed as a defensive backs coach for the football team.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
Homeland Security says video shows self-defense Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in posts on X that the new video backs their contention that the officer fired in self-defense.
—Rebecca Santana, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors say the court paperwork backs that up, pointing to Ryan Rates, the Uniontown man investigators believe was at the center of the operation involving at least four other people.
—Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Here’s the science that backs that up.
—Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said running backs coach Matt Merritt has a heavy say in those plans.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
UConn running backs coach Antonio Wilcox is expected to be the next running backs coach for the Horned Frogs, replacing Jimmy Smith, who is headed to Georgia Tech.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
Former running backs coach at South Carolina, Blackwell has been coaching since his playing career (QB) ended in 2006.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
Iran backs groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Decades of research backs this up.
—Fiona Ma, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs
Noun
-
Behind him, his band, Kublai Khan TX, rears and slumps into its next song.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Jordan love kind of rears back, throws it across the field, and Mike Jack had the presence of mind to stay with his guy on that one, and could have come up with a big interception.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady, now, is poised to once again exploit the Broncos’ soft spots.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Greene has shown a knack for finding soft spots in the offensive zone and setting himself up for Grade-A scoring chances.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Every Black History Month Has a Theme Each year the president endorses a specific theme for Black History Month.—
Terri Huggins Hart,
Parents,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Steve Scalise endorses Houston Gaines for Congress.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The calcium found in milk is also packaged with vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
19 Jan. 2026
-
An appropriate portfolio aids you in capitalizing on gains and mitigating losses from individual stock declines.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With Unit 3 advancing smoothly, Zhangzhou reinforces China’s push to scale nuclear construction faster and more efficiently.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Every bedroom opens to an indoor-outdoor bathroom, a small but telling detail that reinforces how closely the design considers its surroundings, while the infinity pool runs along the edge of the property with uninterrupted jungle views.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Young elephants pass us in the bush with fleshy knobs where there should be tails, the scars of crocodile bites from wading through deep rivers, and the Sitatunga have evolved long, splayed hooves to prevent them from getting stuck in the boggy wetland.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Hamsters are cute, furry mammals with oversized cheek pouches and short tails.—
Noel Kirkpatrick,
Treehugger,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Once Woll’s bratty vamp was through draining jugulars, the actress found a second signature role as Karen Page on Marvel’s Daredevil (2015–2018).—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Pattie Gonia advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and for protection of public land and the environment.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
-
This has forced transgender children and their families to relocate — sometimes to other states and out of the country — to seek medical care, said Brit Cervantes, the founder of OCGAPNet, an organization that advocates for trans rights.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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