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as in withdrawn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
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Recent Examples of backward
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Ransom said, throwing his hands up and teetering backward when the reporter asked him what the crash sounded like.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
And some interactions — most notably, particles interacting through the weak force — exhibit asymmetries when particles are replaced with antiparticles, when reflected in a mirror, or when their clocks are run backward instead of forward.
—Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
As Knight rolled out of the ring, Allin performed a suicide dive to Knight, who fell backward and hit the announce table.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
Ransom said, throwing his hands up and teetering backward when the reporter asked him what the crash sounded like.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Adjective
Five years is a long time to invest in a relationship that hasn’t moved forward, backward or in any direction.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
And some interactions — most notably, particles interacting through the weak force — exhibit asymmetries when particles are replaced with antiparticles, when reflected in a mirror, or when their clocks are run backward instead of forward.
—Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Overall, among Catholic Americans who have seen this feud become the most contentious relationship between a secular leader and the papacy dating back to medieval times, the pope's favorability climbs to 61%, the poll said.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
That injury proved to be a turning point in that series, as the Pacers rallied back from an 0-2 deficit to win it in seven games.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Adverb
-
Tik-Tok and Instagram weren’t even around in 2010 – the same year Justin Bieber was emerging as a pop star and Lady Gaga put on her meat dress.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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Both players had their heads bandaged and were substituted, for Chris Wood and Filip Jorgenson, after a stoppage of around five minutes.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
School districts across San Diego County are struggling to improve attendance and reverse declines in enrollment.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
And there is a non-FHA reverse second loan available for 55-and-older homeowners who don’t want to lose their low interest rate first mortgage.—
Jeff Lazerson,
Oc Register,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Along the way, Babilonia matured from the shy withdrawn child who refused to hold a boy’s hand into a bold, strong and confident woman.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 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
-
Charlotte’s growing Catholic presence Nationally, religious service attendance is down.—
Desiree Mathurin
April 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The loss equaled 5 cents per share, down from a profit of 13 cents per share a year ago.—
Dylan Sherman,
Arkansas Online,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
It’s not yet confirmed if the reversed look that was seen initially will be released at retail.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
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As the number of reversed-conviction lawsuits exploded over the past decade, the city spread most of the work around a dozen firms, who deployed more than 200 attorneys in all plus another 200-plus support staffers.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For reference, Palisades fire survivors expect to pay around $800 per square foot to rebuild, while Eaton fire survivors expect to pay just shy of $600.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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Completing the triptych is the story of yet another student in 1972, the shy Hannes (Enzo Brumm), who hopes to study poetry but is soon taken with the lovely Gundula (Marlene Burow), who is researching the neural responses of the geranium on her windowsill.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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