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as in withdrawn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
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Recent Examples of backward
Julie Thomas, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
To achieve this end, the American officials negotiating a peace agreement should learn from the failure of the 2022 Istanbul talks between Kyiv and Moscow, which treated a political settlement as the goal and worked backward toward a cease-fire.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Dave Quinn, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
At the lower left side of the backward C that makes up the northern crown is an extremely faint star, T-Coronae Borealis.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025
Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The government’s solutions to bending the cost curve have largely failed and, in some cases, unintentionally exacerbated underlying problems, the focus of my last book, Bringing Value to Healthcare.
—Rita Numerof, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Jacob Louraine, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
Rent from any of the various sports equipment centers in town, lather up with sunscreen, and float down the crystal clear river where alpine vistas are always just around the bend.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
To hit your target, work backward to find the number of deals needed based on your average deal size and win rate.
—Julie Thomas, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
To achieve this end, the American officials negotiating a peace agreement should learn from the failure of the 2022 Istanbul talks between Kyiv and Moscow, which treated a political settlement as the goal and worked backward toward a cease-fire.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
There's also double the storage, faster load times and backward compatibility with many original Switch games and accessories.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
At the lower left side of the backward C that makes up the northern crown is an extremely faint star, T-Coronae Borealis.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
Wilkinson’s conservative pedigree may complicate White House efforts to credibly assail him as a left-leaning jurist bent on thwarting the Trump administration’s agenda for political purposes, a fallback line of attack when judicial decisions run counter to the president’s wishes.
—Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The government’s solutions to bending the cost curve have largely failed and, in some cases, unintentionally exacerbated underlying problems, the focus of my last book, Bringing Value to Healthcare.
—Rita Numerof, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
Columbia Rounding the bend with just two laps remaining in Saturday’s 3,000-meter final, Missouri’s Drew Rogers ran in the eighth position, hugging the back of the lead pack.
—Jacob Louraine, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
Rent from any of the various sports equipment centers in town, lather up with sunscreen, and float down the crystal clear river where alpine vistas are always just around the bend.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Others, like transportation and warehousing, probably brought on more workers because of the tariffs but are likely to pull back in coming months, experts say.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
From this point on the story switches to different southwestern states, Kansas, Colorado, back to Wyoming as other characters are introduced who will be a key part of efforts to track down Lucas.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
1 May 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
-
Known for its reverse chronological storytelling, the noir thriller stars Rainn Wilson, Wyatt Russell, Ron Livingston, and more.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Even though return volumes are rising, reverse supply chains are actually underdeveloped.—
Andre Claudio,
Sourcing Journal,
25 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
Verb
-
In the bottom of the first inning on Opening Day 2023, Aaron Judge clobbered a high, arching narrative over the center-field wall, and that was it.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
This tough shrub puts on a stunning spring display, with showy rose-like blooms lining gracefully arching branches.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The key to successfully bringing family into the C-suite is devoting time and training them and moving each of them up over time.—
Ray Titus,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
The Beavers appear more willing to devote every dollar possible to winning on the field during the Pac-12's transition.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
After several years of blockbuster growth in the remodeling and design business, the White House’s erratic rollout of tariffs aimed at reshaping global trade is already taking a toll.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2025
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The following table of net yields aims to deliver rough justice to the situation.—
William Baldwin,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The glass lobby curves around this view and outside is a huge pool deck with bar and lost of open-air seating.—
Larry Olmsted,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Highlights in the Land of Enchantment include curving through Apache Canyon, sidling along the red sandstone cliffs near Gallup, and marveling at the barren lava fields of El Malpais National Monument and National Conservation Area.—
Ellen Carpenter,
AFAR Media,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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