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as in withdrawn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
Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2025
See Star Wars sites in Ireland, visit a Scottish castle, and listen to Strauss in Hamburg, Germany
An extraordinary trip that seems like floating backward in time, Explora Journeys’ 10-night itinerary begins in Hamburg, Germany.
—AFAR Media, 29 July 2025
Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
What should have been his biggest weakness—his origin in a seemingly backward country—was his greatest strength.
—Ekow Eshun
july 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Brady, now 47, is looking backward, through the lens of decades of wins, setbacks, and personal growth.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2025
See Star Wars sites in Ireland, visit a Scottish castle, and listen to Strauss in Hamburg, Germany
An extraordinary trip that seems like floating backward in time, Explora Journeys’ 10-night itinerary begins in Hamburg, Germany.
—AFAR Media, 29 July 2025
Adjective
The Ohio native wore Nike shorts and a T-shirt, accessorized with a backward white baseball hat.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
What should have been his biggest weakness—his origin in a seemingly backward country—was his greatest strength.
—Ekow Eshun
july 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
By 2022, Leon said a nationwide change pushed back on criminally charging minors for repeat violations of ordinances that aren't against the law for adults.—
David Ferrara,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
-
Jim and Jeremy Janssen now live in North Carolina and Maryland, respectively — but traveled back to Detroit with a slew of family members for the puppet's induction into the Detroit Historical Museum.—
Emma George-Griffin,
Freep.com,
25 July 2025
Adverb
-
Here, the odds of the postseason dropped a full three percentage points, to 95.9% (though that’s with a 92.5% chance of a division title and a 52.4% chance of a bye, down from 73.7% last week).—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
29 July 2025
-
That percentage is also very similar to 2023 and down slightly from the 100.1% of mid-2022, reflecting the red-hot market of 2020-mid-2022 in which buyers were fiercely competing for homes, often asking over asking price.—
Matthew Glowicki,
The Courier-Journal,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
For his career, Mullins has hit right-handed pitchers better than lefties, but Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns pointed to approach adjustments Mullins has made recently against southpaws (while citing the difficulty of putting too much stock in small samples of reverse splits).—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Weaver has also been a reverse splits guy this season, though he’s been in a funk lately.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Set in Taiwan in 1988, the intergenerational drama revolves around Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn girl, growing up in silent gloom.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 July 2025
-
Everyone reacts differently to a cancer diagnosis: some men may want to talk openly, others may become quiet or withdrawn.—
Alex Apatoff,
People.com,
8 July 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
-
Police records describe violence, a chaotic scene Officers responded to the shooting around 10 p.m. after witnesses reported the incident to airport dispatchers.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
27 July 2025
-
On top of the bathroom problems, the man says the kitchen is also a nightmare thanks to Jerry and Daisy, who leave dirty dishes around.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
27 July 2025
Adjective
-
The 26-year-old All-Pro very publicly requested a trade from Dallas yesterday, and fellow Cowboys players were not shy about voicing their support for the star edge rusher.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Isabella Sermon will appear opposite Lowden as Georgiana, Mr. Darcy's shy and shockingly accomplished teenage sister.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Gomez, the lone Democrat on the commission, said she was troubled by Paramount’s payment to settle a suit brought by President Trump and by other concessions.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
24 July 2025
-
Emergency responders arrived on the scene and assisted the lone survivor.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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