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as in withdrawn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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backward
Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 May 2026
As my father would say never take a step backward, not even to gain momentum.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 May 2026
Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Rovman Powell couldn’t hold on to an overhead catch of Kohli in the power play at short cover and Vaibhav Arora missed a sitter at deep backward square leg when Padikkal was on 22.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Which is my initials backwards.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 May 2026
As my father would say never take a step backward, not even to gain momentum.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 May 2026
Adjective
At kickoff of Sporting KC’s match against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday night, Dejan Joveljic rolled the ball two yards backward to teammate Lasse Berg Johnsen — who promptly smashed it out of bounds, as close to the corner flag as possible.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Rovman Powell couldn’t hold on to an overhead catch of Kohli in the power play at short cover and Vaibhav Arora missed a sitter at deep backward square leg when Padikkal was on 22.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
This did happen one morning and the camp staff of 8 jumped in and collectively replaced the pipework and got the water back on within 30 minutes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
-
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2025, the Lone Star tick’s geographic spread extended all along the Eastern Seaboard, from Florida through central Texas in the south, up to the lower reaches of South Dakota and back across to Maine.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
Adverb
-
The man continued moving around inside the fountain even as police ordered him to get out, according to the outlet.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
The house is around two miles from the Islamic Center, which is in the Clairemont Mesa neighborhood.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
On Friday, police made a reverse 911 call to tell people to evacuate and posted on social media about the evacuations, Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said.—
Taylor Romine,
CNN Money,
23 May 2026
-
The operation will create ‘reverse adaptations‘ to allow producers and screenwriters to turn screenplays into novels at an early stage of development.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
His is a more enlightened era, but Hannes, lonely and withdrawn, doesn’t share his classmates’ interest in campus sit-ins and free love.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Lost was the fact that a grid-connection request is just the start of a multiyear process that involves permitting and legal review and often ends in withdrawn or downsized projects.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 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
-
South Africa saw a 73% decline in admissions, while South Korea was down 52%.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
19 May 2026
-
For a buyer putting 20% down on a $420,000 home — roughly the national median home price — their monthly principal and interest payment has gone from $2,012 to $2,179, a difference of $167.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
19 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 26 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
