Synonyms of backward

backward 1 of 4

adverb

variants or backwards

1

as in back

toward the rear

looking backward, we could see the town receding in the distance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• back
• rearward
• rearwards
• astern
• reversely
• counterclockwise
• withershins
• widdershins
• anticlockwise
• left-handed
• retrograde
• sternforemost
• left-handedly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forward
• forth
• ahead
• along
• on
• forwards
• before
• onward
• onwards

2

as in down

toward the opposite direction

the loud noise prompted him to glance backward to see what was happening

Synonyms & Similar Words

• down
• back
• around
• round
• downward
• about
• downwards
• behind
• rearward
• rearwards
• reversely
• across
• counterclockwise
• counter
• athwart
• widdershins
• withershins
• obversely

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clockwise
• deasil

backward

2 of 4

adjective

1

as in reverse

directed, turned, or done toward the back

a backward turn on ice skates is hard to learn because you can't see where you're going

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reverse
• reversed
• hind
• retrograde
• rearward
• rear
• posterior
• aft
• after
• astern
• sternforemost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forward

2

as in withdrawn

not comfortable around people

curiously, the quiet, backward man opened up when around other introverts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• withdrawn
• shy
• lone
• diffident
• sheepish
• bashful
• modest
• retiring
• recessive
• coy
• introverted
• awkward
• demure
• embarrassed
• self-effacing
• reserved
• antisocial
• unsociable
• unsocial
• uneasy
• unenterprising
• lone-wolf
• unassertive
• unadventurous
• inhibited
• uptight
• self-conscious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• outgoing
• social
• immodest
• extroverted
• extraverted
• gregarious
• convivial
• companionable
• forward
• sociable
• boon
• forceful
• bold
• dashing
• uninhibited
• clubable
• clubbable
• unreserved
• brash
• overbold

bend

3 of 4

verb

1

as in to arch

to cause to turn away from a straight line

she bent the blade of the knife when she got it jammed in the drawer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arch
• hook
• curve
• bow
• curl
• twist
• turn
• swerve
• crook
• round
• wave
• arc
• veer
• deflect
• weave
• reflect
• swirl
• loop
• divert
• inflect
• kink
• slope
• warp
• spiral
• coil
• incline
• entwine
• meander
• wind
• incurvate
• dent
• incurve
• twine
• enroll
• enrol
• dimple
• decline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straighten
• unbend
• uncurl

2

as in to devote

to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention

bent herself to the task for the rest of the day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• devote
• apply
• give
• buckle
• get cracking
• commit
• address
• turn a hand
• work
• spend
• get with it
• set (to)
• settle (down)
• turn one's hand
• get one's act together
• exert
• readdress
• reapply
• engage
• busy
• wear out
• trouble
• involve
• stress
• hump
• plow
• put out
• exhaust
• carry on
• tax
• concern
• strain
• knuckle down
• plunge (in)
• pitch in
• grind
• hustle
• plod
• plug (away)
• peg (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• play
• dawdle
• fool around
• idle
• trifle
• fiddle (around)
• mess around
• putter (around)
• monkey (around)
• potter (around)
• dally
• dillydally

3

as in to aim

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal

bent all of his efforts toward making his first documentary film

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aim
• cast
• set
• hold
• direct
• head
• train
• steer
• pinpoint
• sight
• focus
• level
• face
• concentrate
• bear
• orient
• incline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• curve
• deflect
• avert
• divert
• shunt
• detour
• sidetrack
• rechannel

4

as in to curve

to turn away from a straight line or course

the stream bends slightly to the east

Synonyms & Similar Words

• curve
• bow
• arc
• round
• sweep
• turn
• fall off
• arch
• swerve
• wind
• wheel
• crook
• loop
• hook
• curl
• trend
• circle
• spiral
• coil
• deviate
• twist
• veer
• curlicue

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straighten

5

as in to distort

to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of

attorneys bending the facts to put their client in the most favorable light

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distort
• misrepresent
• twist
• slant
• cook
• falsify
• warp
• misstate
• complicate
• pervert
• misinterpret
• obscure
• fudge
• misrelate
• garble
• color
• confuse
• censor
• mistake
• disguise
• mask
• dissemble
• veil
• lie
• camouflage
• gloss (over)
• whitewash
• misdescribe
• misspeak
• mistranslate
• belie
• mix (up)
• prevaricate
• mystify
• equivocate
• palter
• bowdlerize
• fib
• confound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• explain
• interpret
• illustrate
• clarify
• clear (up)
• spell out
• illuminate
• decipher

6

as in to attach

to cause (something) to hold to another

bend a leash to the dog's collar

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attach
• affix
• tie
• glue
• fasten
• connect
• clip
• adhere
• fix
• screw
• stick
• hang
• strap
• pin
• clamp
• harness
• tack
• clench
• tackle
• shackle
• rivet
• link
• yoke
• clasp
• latch
• clinch
• toggle
• lash
• cinch
• staple
• nail
• bolt
• plaster
• join
• unite
• paste
• coapt
• button
• lace
• reattach
• refasten
• resecure
• hasp
• reaffix
• batten
• refix
• belay
• do up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• detach
• split
• undo
• divide
• unhook
• unfasten
• sever
• separate
• disconnect
• part
• dissociate
• loosen
• break up
• divorce
• loose
• uncouple
• disunite
• sunder
• dissever
• disjoin
• untie
• unyoke
• unlink
• disjoint
• unbind
• unfix
• unlash

bend

4 of 4

noun

1

as in curvature

something that curves or is curved

it's hard to see around that bend in the road, so be careful

Synonyms & Similar Words

• curvature
• curve
• turn
• angle
• bow
• wind
• arch
• fold
• crook
• arc
• corner
• slope
• twist
• curl
• inflection
• warp
• winding
• loop
• coil
• ring
• round
• spiral
• circle
• buckle
• swirl
• kink
• incline
• flexure
• inclination
• reflection
• curlycue
• hairpin
• curlicue
• convolution
• ringlet
• incurvature
• turnoff
• decline
• dogleg

2

as in tilt

the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle

did knee bends for exercise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tilt
• tip
• list
• inclination
• cock
• angling
• twist
• nod
• turn
• bow
• dip
• veer

Phrases Containing backward

• around the bend