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as in withdrawn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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to attach
to cause (something) to hold to another
bend a leash to the dog's collar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of backward
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Not only did the Devers addition fail to ignite the lineup, but also the production went backward while the Giants have scored the fewest runs in the major leagues.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2025
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Despite the introduction of the Switch 2 and the Switch 2's broad backward compatibility with the original Switch's game library, Nintendo is still keeping the original Switch around as an entry-level console.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2025
Hannah Sacks, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
To avoid a repeat of the iPhone 6 Plus bending issue, Apple reduced the screen size of the 17 Air from 6.9 inches to 6.6, Gurman says.
—PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Blow Dryer, smoothing and adding soft bends and waves.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Lynch put a steel chain in Valyria’s mouth and pulled it backward while using the ring post for leverage.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Not only did the Devers addition fail to ignite the lineup, but also the production went backward while the Giants have scored the fewest runs in the major leagues.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 31 July 2025
Adjective
The big question is what triggered the backward slide in performance.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Despite the introduction of the Switch 2 and the Switch 2's broad backward compatibility with the original Switch's game library, Nintendo is still keeping the original Switch around as an entry-level console.
—Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
The little one could be seen bending down, wearing a small black boot on his leg.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
To avoid a repeat of the iPhone 6 Plus bending issue, Apple reduced the screen size of the 17 Air from 6.9 inches to 6.6, Gurman says.
—PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
The erosion-scarred sandstone bends and buckles in places forming unique overhangs, ledges and curving tunnels.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Blow Dryer, smoothing and adding soft bends and waves.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Tom Beason, a hospice chaplain who worked with Janssen in the early 1990s, recalls Janssen back then as guarded, angry and not concerned with spiritual beliefs.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Their roots trace back to the 1700s in New Orleans, and their flavor is just as rich as the history behind them.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
17 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
-
The gains came mainly from exports to the U.S. Without their impact, the overall tally would have been down 0.9 percent, the industry body said.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, normative scenarios (similar to a reverse stress test) can add significant value when they are built around specific business objectives.—
John M. Bremen,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
That was much better than previous Madden releases, which in reverse chronological order received 1.7, 1.7, 0.8 and 1.3 out of 10.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Unfortunately, further discussions were heated with no resolve, just more withdrawn behavior while the communications continued.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
The Enterprise Bridge project connects the Southport Industrial Park to Interstate 80 by arching across the Sacramento Deep Water Shipping Channel.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
3 Aug. 2025
-
Agnes has a gawky, floppy-haired beauty, a gently appraising stare, quizzically arching eyebrows, and a tendency to listen with her mouth half open, as if in anticipation of a punch line that will take her, and us, by surprise.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
Alves devoted part of that speech to the wonders of this country by providing the blessings of freedom and opportunity to people like him.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
-
This year, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence stood up the Open-Source Intelligence Subcommittee, the first ever congressional body devoted specifically to an intelligence discipline.—
Ann Wagner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Like other federal agencies, its spending has been on the chopping block as Trump aims to drastically scale back the size of the federal government.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
-
But then suddenly, out of nowhere, came a fusillade of bullets aimed at our heads and the upper parts of our bodies.—
Ahmed Dader
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Dozens of storms have traveled north offshore, often curving completely away from the coast without making landfall in the mainland United States or in Canada, but some leave damage in their wakes, in the form of erosion, coastal flooding and even deaths from rough seas.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Her blonde locks were styled into tight barrel curls, while her bangs curved outward to the sides of her face.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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