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
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2026
If people believe a technology is being built on their backs, the backlash that follows is difficult to reverse.
—Eric Schmidt, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The training course is specifically designed for women and offers practice in real-world scenarios like self-defense firing while lying on their stomachs and backs.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Professional stump removal can be pricey, especially if the stump is big enough that a few strong backs and a sturdy shovel won't do the job.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
And straddling it were the Mexicans and the gringos, like two children, eyes shut, their backs to each other, while the Apaches scuttled back and forth between their legs, not sure where to go with strangers bubbling up everywhere, filling their lands.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Every second counts The victims of domestic violence who visit the Palomar family justice center in Oklahoma City often arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs, many with young children in tow.
—Maddy Keyes, The Frontier, 5 Mar. 2026
The backs are mostly blank except for a player name and card number.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Also on board is Jerry Gray, a defensive backs coach who worked under Morris in Atlanta.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
Jupiter in your 3rd House of Discourse backs you up, so a thoughtful chat with a teammate can rally useful support by explaining who does what.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Waymo, which is already testing its vehicles in Minneapolis with someone behind the wheel, backs the plan and more than a dozen people weighed in on the proposal.
—Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
The plainspoken outsider backs a $25 minimum wage, calling it smart business to pay workers a living wage.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
The University of California, which backs the Wiener bill, could gain the most under the measure, as the university system’s largest source of federal funding typically comes from the NIH, according to university officials.
—Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Billionaire Cody Campbell, chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents, was invited, as was Gerry Cardinale, whose RedBird Capital backs a fund looking to invest in college sports programs.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The insider also confirmed that William’s wife, Kate Middleton, backs her husband’s plans to run the throne more like a business.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 2 Mar. 2026
The Brady gun control advocacy group was on the opposite side of the Hawaii case but backs the Justice Department’s defense of the federal ban on drug users having guns.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
Outhouse is one of three highly respected defensive backs at North Crowley.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2026
If people believe a technology is being built on their backs, the backlash that follows is difficult to reverse.
—Eric Schmidt, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The training course is specifically designed for women and offers practice in real-world scenarios like self-defense firing while lying on their stomachs and backs.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Professional stump removal can be pricey, especially if the stump is big enough that a few strong backs and a sturdy shovel won't do the job.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
And straddling it were the Mexicans and the gringos, like two children, eyes shut, their backs to each other, while the Apaches scuttled back and forth between their legs, not sure where to go with strangers bubbling up everywhere, filling their lands.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Every second counts The victims of domestic violence who visit the Palomar family justice center in Oklahoma City often arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs, many with young children in tow.
—Maddy Keyes, The Frontier, 5 Mar. 2026
The backs are mostly blank except for a player name and card number.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Also on board is Jerry Gray, a defensive backs coach who worked under Morris in Atlanta.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Terrorists and the rogue nation that backs them are fighting asymmetric warfare against more powerful nations.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026
Jupiter in your 3rd House of Discourse backs you up, so a thoughtful chat with a teammate can rally useful support by explaining who does what.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
Waymo, which is already testing its vehicles in Minneapolis with someone behind the wheel, backs the plan and more than a dozen people weighed in on the proposal.
—Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
The plainspoken outsider backs a $25 minimum wage, calling it smart business to pay workers a living wage.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
The University of California, which backs the Wiener bill, could gain the most under the measure, as the university system’s largest source of federal funding typically comes from the NIH, according to university officials.
—Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Billionaire Cody Campbell, chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents, was invited, as was Gerry Cardinale, whose RedBird Capital backs a fund looking to invest in college sports programs.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Mar. 2026
The insider also confirmed that William’s wife, Kate Middleton, backs her husband’s plans to run the throne more like a business.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 2 Mar. 2026
The Brady gun control advocacy group was on the opposite side of the Hawaii case but backs the Justice Department’s defense of the federal ban on drug users having guns.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs
Noun
-
Dogs sniff each other’s rears, African elephants swing their trunks, and songbirds peck at one another’s feathers.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
-
So much grunt routes through a trick all-wheel-drive system that actually uses a two-speed gearbox ahead of the engine between the front wheels, in addition to a more traditional eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle routing power to the rears.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Avoid skin that has many soft spots or is mushy to touch.—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Look for citrus fruits that feel firm and smooth, with no soft spots or bruises.—
Zia Sherrell,
Health,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lisa buys out the bar and endorses some questionable NBA etiquette.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The governor rarely endorses legislation ahead of passage, but his support will likely heavily factor in the likelihood of the bill’s passage.—
Lia Russell
February 20,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The weight drop also aids the electrical efficiency of the new engines, which rely much more on battery power than the previous generation.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Papaya is also known for its high fiber content, which aids in digestion and promotes regular bowel movements.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón said the conflict reinforces the case for California to lessen its dependence on fossil fuels and move forward with cap-and-invest.—
Chaewon Chung
March 3,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The revival reinforces Rocky Horror’s place in pop culture history as a living, evolving experience rather than a relic of the 1970s.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The test kitchen has been experimenting with unusual cuts from his retired dairy cow beef, including whole tails.—
Emily Wilson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Father and son, both members of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, stare out at a sea of green grass and buffalo berry bushes as a herd of 30 or so bison munch patches of grass, flick their tails at flies, and flop onto the ground, creating brief billows of dust.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 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
-
Ford advocates for improving safety for hospital workers.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Elizabeth Henneke is founder and chief executive officer of Lone Star Justice Alliance, which advocates for youth in the criminal justice system.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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