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as in withdrawn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
Liza Esquibias, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
What else: Something non-yeti suddenly goes wrong, and passengers roll backward into the darkness.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Something is backward here. — Joe Szczepaniak, Wheaton All this nonsense over gerrymandering could be solved once and for all by creating congressional districts mathematically.
—Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
This is true for singer Jessie James Decker, who fearfully watches her athlete husband Eric Decker fall backward over a body of water.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
What else: Something non-yeti suddenly goes wrong, and passengers roll backward into the darkness.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Designed for universal compatibility, the Moonbase can support a wide range of devices and standards, including USB-C PD and has backward compatibility for older gadgets.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Something is backward here. — Joe Szczepaniak, Wheaton All this nonsense over gerrymandering could be solved once and for all by creating congressional districts mathematically.
—Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
The talented getaway driver gets pulled back into the game when her hot mess of an ex-boyfriend (Karl Glusman) is in it bad with a crime boss (Andy Garcia).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
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Guests are taken from adventurous to comforting and back again, never left too long in either register.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Trump said the aggressive steps were necessary to combat crime in the city, even though Washington's violent crime rate was down 26% in 2025 compared with last year.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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After peaking in July of 2021, Target’s stock is down more than 60% during a period when most of the competition racked up substantial gains.—
Steve Dennis,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Critics, such as Michael Green of Simplify Asset Management, warn that this dynamic may warp prices and inflate a bubble that could burst if flows reverse.—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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Apple could finally bring reverse wireless charging to iPhones, leaker Fixed Focus Digital claims.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Unfortunately, further discussions were heated, with no resolve, just more withdrawn behavior while the communications continued.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
Adverb
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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
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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
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The blast occurred on a 751-foot commercial vessel at around 6:30 p.m. local time, the Baltimore City Fire Department said on Facebook.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
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The Padres knocked right-hander Kei-Wei Teng around for seven runs — six earned — in 1⅔ innings in last week’s start in San Francisco.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Leaving thousands of cases behind Former Judge Angela Munro received the email in April notifying her that her employment would be terminated and placed on administrative leave — just a few days shy of the end of her two-year probationary period.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
13 Aug. 2025
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And as the Phillies look for a solution, the manager won't be shy about his expectations for composure on the mound.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Bills didn’t convert a single third down the entire game, but their lone positive play on third down was due to Shavers winning his route on a 3rd-and-18 and drawing a defensive pass interference penalty to give the Bills offense a rare, earned first down.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
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On the ensuing goal kick, Turner played the ball short to Matt Polster, who folded possession over heavy pressure, the ball falling to an on-rushing Delgado, who fired in the game’s lone goal.—
Julian Cardillo,
Boston Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
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