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as in withdrawn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
Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
And while Adames was a well-above-average player in 2025, his plate discipline has cratered in 2026 and his defensive metrics have taken a huge step backward too.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
Have a backward day with friends.
—Parents, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Artist Included argues that the same technology can be pointed backward, to right an industry’s old wrongs and return ownership and income to artists never built into the deal.
—Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
And while Adames was a well-above-average player in 2025, his plate discipline has cratered in 2026 and his defensive metrics have taken a huge step backward too.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
Adjective
And because the Switch 2 has excellent (and nearly perfect) backward compatibility, nearly all your original Switch games will work on the new console, so don't let the worry about leaving your favorite games behind hinder your upgrade.
—Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026
Have a backward day with friends.
—Parents, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
So far, Lan has paid back about $455,000, and the Ho Chi Minh City Judgment Enforcement Agency is still actively processing assets related to Lan for damage compensation, Nguyen told CNN.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
-
Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie will be back at the box office this weekend, delivering what could be the biggest film debut of the year.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Adverb
-
Kkj 2-Pack Casual Tank Tops Loose, breathable tank tops like these are ideal for summer trips to the zoo, evening walks around the neighborhood, or just lounging around at home.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
23 June 2026
-
Now that is maturity, not throwing a fit because Joe is around.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
23 June 2026
Adjective
-
Sophie Cunningham's reverse layup tied it at 93 with just over five minutes to play.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
The series was a sort of reverse Stranger Things where retirees investigate a monster infestation in their community, and starred bigger names like Alfre Woodard, Alfred Molina and Geena Davis.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Blatter also suggested that Infantino, like a lot of dictators, has started acting withdrawn.—
Chris Jones,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
-
Patrick Stewart is also among those to have publicly discussed working with a withdrawn Hardy, who has also starred in The Dark Knight trilogy, Peaky Blinders and the Venom films.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
27 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
-
This year, 1,573 submissions are in contention across the 17 performer categories, down from 1,706 in 2025, a decline of nearly 8%.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
17 June 2026
-
Paul Pidutti’s excellent HHOF rankings site has Brind’Amour way down in a tie for 27th among eligible forwards, behind a long list that includes John LeClair, Keith Tkachuk, Patrik Elias, Henrik Zetterberg, Ryan Getzlaf and Rick Nash, to name several significantly ahead of him.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
17 June 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
-
Now, Perez sits just five homers shy of breaking Brett’s all-time franchise mark for home runs as a Royal.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2026
-
Farrell, who also narrates in a soft voice, often wears a look of shy incomprehension, as if a beat behind in translating the world around him, a stranger in a strange land.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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