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as in withdrawn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
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
His campaign often looks backward, while young voters are looking forward.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2025
Recurring injuries are also chipping away at Dan Quinn’s backward-hat dude vibes.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Through the format of a memory play, Flood’s character steps backward into the role of her own mother, and then invites the figures of other women involved in her group onstage.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
His campaign often looks backward, while young voters are looking forward.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Then, Pribula threw a backward pass that went out of bounds, for a loss of 6.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2025
Recurring injuries are also chipping away at Dan Quinn’s backward-hat dude vibes.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Though the serial killer in each installment of Scream is always revealed to be a different person, the phone voice has remained consistent since Jackson, now 65, took on the job back in 1996.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The barf motions after Shannon would turn her back.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Early in the second period, Matthews used his size to force a turnover down low and then force a few opportunities.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
My weight would go up and down over the years.—
Ashley Hume , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The other was a 37-yard pass to tight end Zack Marshall on a reverse flea-flicker.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The functional centerpiece is a six-story staircase, which leads museumgoers past stone monuments and pharaonic statues arranged in reverse chronological order.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Set in Taiwan in 1988, Girl revolves around Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn girl, growing up in silent gloom.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Unfortunately, further discussions were heated, with no resolve, just more withdrawn behavior while the communications continued.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
Adverb
-
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
-
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
Adverb
-
And rather than being designed in a Top Secret military facility—literally, Area 51, used for the U-2—at the expense of billions of taxpayer dollars, Planet’s doing it with around six hundred employees and hardly a security clearance in sight.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Wood was a radio announcer and jazz disc jockey and took DeJohnette around to clubs.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The 52 catches are the most ever by a UM true freshman — surpassing Ahmmon Richards’ mark of 49 set in the 2016 season — and are seven shy of tying Eddie Brown’s mark of 59 in the 1984 season for 10th all-time in Hurricanes history.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The coaching staff needs to view playing these young forwards as an investment, especially considering some of the shy offence being delivered by veterans like Trent Frederic.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Commodores have started 7-1 with the lone loss to Alabama.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
30 Oct. 2025
-
In his lone season in Dinkytown, Cooley led the Gophers with 22 goals and 38 assists in 39 games as the 2022-23 team made it to the NCAA title game in Tampa.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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