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as in withdrawn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
Peter Baugh, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
The valves normally keep blood from flowing backward.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Verywell Health, 10 Apr. 2025
Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025
Ribbed tanks, for example, can become tube tops and halters and skirts when worn forward, backward or upside down.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Zibanejad threw his head backward in frustration after the play.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
The valves normally keep blood from flowing backward.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Verywell Health, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Hummingbirds are a fan favorite of avid bird watchers due to their spunky personalities and impressive flying tricks (flying upside-down and backward!).
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025
Ribbed tanks, for example, can become tube tops and halters and skirts when worn forward, backward or upside down.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Johan Rojas, who hit 3 for 5 out of the nine-hole, was effective at turning the lineup back over to Bryson Stott (3 for 5, three RBI) and Trea Turner (4 for 5, two RBI), who combined for seven hits and five RBI.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Siba raced back inside and dropped to the ground, her entire body trembling.—
Christina Goldbaum,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Mate Dei, down 3-1, loaded the bases with two out in the 10th.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
-
That was down from 39% in 2013, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.—
Jeremy Cox,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This is designed with four large, leaf-like blades that move in three speeds—also in reverse directions—and look straight out of the tropics.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
16 Apr. 2025
-
International agreements such as the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions establish global standards that directly affect American companies’ ability to market products abroad and manage reverse logistics and material recovery.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Its influence on the withdrawn protagonist, Jamie (played by Owen Cooper), is largely implied.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The withdrawn San Francisco drama, about lonely nonbinary nanny and restaurant server Cass (Asia Kate Dillon), is simple in its presentation, but disguises numerous layers to its story.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 Mar. 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
-
This time around, agencies that oversee youth development programs, job training and services for senior citizens among the most vulnerable.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Stephen Curry Curry had the top-selling jersey last year, but came in at number two this time around.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
By the end of regulation, Nylander had played only 15.5 minutes, a smidge less than Tavares, who was just shy of 16.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Mostly cloudy skies will keep temperatures around 65 degrees in the metro Saturday, which is just a few degrees shy of the average of 68 for this time of year.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Eichel’s lone hat trick of the season came on March 25 at Xcel Energy Center in a 5-1 win over the Wild.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Coogler wrote Remmick as an empathetic and charismatic villain — so much so that IndieWire critic David Ehrlich’s lone knock on the film is that, by design, the darkness of the vampires is more about the fun of being alive than the usual horror movie terror.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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