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 down
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as in withdrawn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
Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
Frantic editing ensures that scenes flash forward and backward in time, sometimes within a minute: these alternating shots work like a visual metronome, ticking from side to side.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Some of the fossil’s features suggest monotremes might have evolved from living in the water to land — and could explain the bizarre, backward feet echidnas have today.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
In Calorie Count, titling the Joy-Con moves characters forward and backward.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
Frantic editing ensures that scenes flash forward and backward in time, sometimes within a minute: these alternating shots work like a visual metronome, ticking from side to side.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Adjective
There is no more tempting occasion for the backward glance; what’s remarkable is how many glancers there have already been in the course of decades past.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
Some of the fossil’s features suggest monotremes might have evolved from living in the water to land — and could explain the bizarre, backward feet echidnas have today.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
The play transports viewers back to the 1950s but feels equally relevant in the 2020s with its themes of unrestrained political power, corporate timidity and journalistic integrity.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
6 June 2025
-
The collaboration is a culmination of a 10-year relationship between Matheson and the culinary brand, which was founded back in 2010.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
6 June 2025
Adverb
-
That City win — PSG’s first comeback from 2-0 down since May 2012, and their only ever in the Champions League — was a coming-of-age performance.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
-
Chris sits back down in his chair, his arm now around a 1976 bicentennial Gibson Firebird that Tom Petty used to play a month of shows at The Fillmore in the ’90s.—
Josh Brolin,
Billboard,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
Besides a decrease in consumer spending, others include the prevalence of reverse gentrification, an increase in secondhand shopping and rising unemployment rates.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
2 June 2025
-
Now, exosomes are in moisturizers, serums, and hair injectables, promising to repair your skin barrier, boost collagen production, and reverse aging.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
Wired News,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
For children, especially, these stressors can quickly lead to meltdowns or withdrawn behavior.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
My main criticism is its withdrawn camera, which is set too far away from the action in most stages.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Each is wrapped in graceful exterior lines and curves that sweep rearward from a massive hood that evokes a classic Jaguar XKE from the 1960’s.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
As do the side vents, and the hood lines that start from the badge and flare outward and rearward, giving the front end more presence.—
Sean Evans,
Robb Report,
5 Aug. 2024
Adverb
-
Defense created easy offense and in the halfcourt, the ball skipped around.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2025
-
Some of that is related to how much safety Derwin James Jr. moves around.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
The mogul has never been shy about expressing his ambitions.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2025
-
Instead of crunch, there’s an intense smoke flavor that’s just shy of overpowering, and a denseness similar to ham.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
Brennan Johnson scored the lone goal in the 42nd minute after an incidental deflection off Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, sending Spurs to next season’s Champions League.—
Marcus D. Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
-
The lone goal could be almost directly attributed to it.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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