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as in withdrawn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
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Recent Examples of backward
ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Reaching backward or twisting around other people to grab a bag is awkward and strains muscles.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026
Rachael Seidler, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Moving forward and backward is moving in the sagittal plane of motion.
—Sarah Klein, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Instead of vaulting off the jump that's built to send skiers hurtling backward, Frostad defied physics and spun forward off that ramp.
—ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Reaching backward or twisting around other people to grab a bag is awkward and strains muscles.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The backward shift showed less recovery, likely because gravity pulls downward rather than forward, so some effects of spaceflight on brain position may last longer than others.
—Rachael Seidler, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Moving forward and backward is moving in the sagittal plane of motion.
—Sarah Klein, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Owen Konrad and Peterson scored for Eden Prairie before Parker Wenkus brought Prior Lake back within a goal.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
19 Feb. 2026
-
They were headed back to the trailhead when the avalanche struck.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
King penguins, which can grow to be around 3 feet tall, are the second-largest penguin species in the world, according to the zoo’s website.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2026
-
From there, head over to the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site with stunning interlocking basalt stone columns that are the result of a volcanic fissure eruption that took place in the Paleogene period (around 60 million years ago).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Since the leaders go in reverse order, Humphries stacked up before Meyers Taylor who then gave way to Nolte.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Lawyers for Mendoza, who turned 19 last month, initially attempted to move his case into juvenile court, a process known as a reverse waiver.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Parents report that many children stop eating, lose weight and become withdrawn.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The Flynns’ pompous neighbor, Jim Doherty, a divorcé with a withdrawn, unpleasant son, encourages Catherine’s artistic rebirth.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 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
-
The velocity, down from his average of nearly 96 mph before his latest elbow surgery, is something the Padres believe could possibly tick up slightly with some mechanical adjustments.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The first item is already down on paper in the form of Team Netherlands’ World Baseball Classic roster.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Right now, however, the roles appear reversed.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Gone is the shy 21-year-old who talked effusively about figure skating, replaced by a young man whose words come in measured and concrete thoughts about a larger purpose.—
Les Carpenter,
Washington Post,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Luckily Fleming, a theater graduate who was also one credit shy of a minor in dance, has an arsenal of tools at his disposal to achieve this clarity.—
John Roy,
Vulture,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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