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as in withdrawn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
Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
This can cause the stroller to tip backward.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
After dark, face south and look for a backward question mark of stars — this is the Lion's head, with Regulus at its base.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Simply put, businesses should work backward from the customer profile and the operating model to the architecture.
—Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
This can cause the stroller to tip backward.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Adjective
That’s one of a number of cases in the paper where the researchers tried to reason backward about what the model was doing based on its output.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
After dark, face south and look for a backward question mark of stars — this is the Lion's head, with Regulus at its base.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Sullivan, though, first pushed back on the idea the Dolphins were trying to trade him at the NFL meetings later that month, calling him a priority to get extended.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
Unidentified trespassers stole the control stick out of an R train while it was parked underground in southern Brooklyn back in December — along a stretch of storage track popular with joyriders and graffiti artists.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
The highway death rate back then was around five deaths or less per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, which is higher than today, but hardly a death sentence.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
Now, they’re being forced to walk around on their tippy toes.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Still vehicle electronics can be damaged from reverse polarity, poor or wrong connection points or voltage spikes from improper equipment.—
Hartford Courant,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
Madrid were 2-1 winners during October’s reverse fixture at the Bernabeu.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
The typically quiet, withdrawn student seemed more engaged in his first-period class than usual, English teacher Sarah Murer told investigators.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
-
The withdrawn draft focused on setting up several new watchdogs to keep AI in check, including a dedicated commission and a special insurance fund to help people if the new technology caused harm.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 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
-
But with Ben White down injured after 26 minutes and forced off, Arsenal’s season depended on Arteta and his gut feelings again.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
China Bar, one level down, also prepares craft cocktails with the same views and occasional live music.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 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
-
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
-
Morrow was especially dominant in the second, putting up 10 points and six rebounds to come just shy of a second straight first-half double-double.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
Maglares finished one out shy of a complete game for the Rockets in a 4-2 Fox Valley Conference win.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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