variants
or backwards
1
as in back
toward the rear
looking backward, we could see the town receding in the distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in around
toward the opposite direction
the loud noise prompted him to glance backward to see what was happening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
curiously, the quiet, backward man opened up when around other introverts
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 backward
Jenny McCoy, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
The finale also gives a big hint as to why this story is being told backward.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
Dallas Morning News, 25 Jan. 2026
Arrigo, instead, had already married a middle-class young woman, who despite being half-Parisian still had the tired, backward mentality of a provincial Italian girl.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Now shift your hips up and backwards to come into a downward dog.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
The finale also gives a big hint as to why this story is being told backward.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Elijah Ponder recovered Stidham’s backward pass at the Denver 12, setting up the tying touchdown two plays later.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Jan. 2026
Arrigo, instead, had already married a middle-class young woman, who despite being half-Parisian still had the tired, backward mentality of a provincial Italian girl.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Freed from some of the commercial pressures, creators are going back to their roots and getting weird, and perhaps building the foundation of the future of immersive content.—
Cortney Harding,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
On the way back, the same thing happened, where groups of protesters boarded and the bus ended up completely full.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
Koepka, the first to work out a deal with the PGA as a reverse defector, this week is playing his first Tour event since returning, at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Gracie Abrams added another twist to Chanel’s cap-toe story at the house’s spring 2026 couture show in Paris on Tuesday, wearing reverse two-tone pumps from the Métiers d’Art 2026 collection in the front row.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Flynns’ pompous neighbor, Jim Doherty, a divorcé with a withdrawn, unpleasant son, encourages Catherine’s artistic rebirth.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
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Off-screen, Affleck has a slightly rougher star persona, while Damon’s can be a little more withdrawn and intellectual.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Two of their toes point inward and two point rearward with sharp pointed claws.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
6 Nov. 2025
-
When moved rearward, the driver-side mattress folds and the front part of the bed base telescopes inside the larger rear section so the dinette can be expanded and used comfortably up front.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Equities are down about 4% this year, with the NSE Nifty 50 Index off to the worst start to a year since 2016.—
Ashutosh Joshi,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
When down 0-40 in the third game of the match after an exchange of breaks, Rybakina was able to serve her way out of trouble, helped by a first of 11 aces.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
On the other hand, this contrast with prior Fed picks could make Rieder even more attractive to Trump, who is not shy about busting norms.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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On Bridgerton, Penelope starts off as the somewhat shy and overlooked Featherington daughter.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
SpaceX already agreed to invest $2 billion in xAI last year as part of the startup’s fundraising round.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Westlake was Calabasas’ only draw in league, but the Coyotes dominated round two with the Warriors, winning 5-0.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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