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as in withdrawn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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backward
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 11 June 2025
After Alvarez speculated that Kennedy had simply fallen backward when his neck muscles went limp, Hoch handed him the book Six Seconds in Dallas by Josiah Thompson, which made an exceptionally strong case for a conspiracy based on the physical evidence.
—Alec Nevala-Lee
june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
Although the Cordilleran Ice Sheet almost certainly melted due to a change in the Earth’s position relative to the sun, that alone doesn’t account for the ice’s backward retreat from western North America.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2025
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Players have to bend their wrist, trying to come up with the right grip to access the analog stick, face buttons and shoulder buttons.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 19 May 2025
Its steering is tight and precise, and throwing its 1,800kg mass around bends is heaps of fun thanks to its grippy tyres.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Karen Read's second murder trial continued Tuesday with testimony from a defense expert who says John O’Keefe likely smashed his skull during a fall backward.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 11 June 2025
After Alvarez speculated that Kennedy had simply fallen backward when his neck muscles went limp, Hoch handed him the book Six Seconds in Dallas by Josiah Thompson, which made an exceptionally strong case for a conspiracy based on the physical evidence.
—Alec Nevala-Lee
june 11, Literary Hub, 11 June 2025
Adjective
A little higher above the western horizon, look for a right-leaning backward question mark.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
Although the Cordilleran Ice Sheet almost certainly melted due to a change in the Earth’s position relative to the sun, that alone doesn’t account for the ice’s backward retreat from western North America.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2025
Verb
The Briton wasn’t passive, but she was forced to bend and break because of her opponent’s brilliant court coverage and defense.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Players have to bend their wrist, trying to come up with the right grip to access the analog stick, face buttons and shoulder buttons.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
Noun
Sitting, on the other hand, creates bends and constrictions in the blood vessels of the legs.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 19 May 2025
Its steering is tight and precise, and throwing its 1,800kg mass around bends is heaps of fun thanks to its grippy tyres.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Two additional ill individuals purchased chicken fettuccine alfredo products that could be traced back to FreshRealm establishments, according to FSIS.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
18 June 2025
-
The new No 9? Referring back to the jigsaw puzzle, a Darwin Nunez exit and no striker incoming makes Wirtz playing as a false nine more probable.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Adverb
-
Nevertheless, as the levels go up and down, the idea is allocation of audit personnel to provide that credible threat.—
Tax Notes Staff,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Net earnings for the quarter were $3.4 billion, down from $3.6 billion during the same period last year.—
Kaitlyn Huamani,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Or reverse years of institutional doubt about whether women belong on the grid.—
Kanzah Maktoum,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
In the third, the Valkyries ballooned their lead to as big as 22 after a reverse layup from Fágbénlé.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
Hayk, a withdrawn and aloof child, lives on a farm with his aunt Narine and gets mocked and called strange by others.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2025
-
For children, especially, these stressors can quickly lead to meltdowns or withdrawn behavior.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
Tummy time involves lying on your stomach, propped up on your elbows, while slightly arching your back.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
5 June 2025
-
Hold at the top for a count of five seconds, squeezing your glutes without arching your back.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
With little else on the election calendar in the early months of 2025, national Democrats devoted time, energy and money to the race, which received enormous publicity.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
18 June 2025
-
Many board positions were not hotly contested, and almost anyone could show up at a school board meeting and command their five minutes of airtime. Bannon would devote particular attention to schools.—
Ira Wells
June 18,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
For this reason, Israel’s attack was not just on Iran’s nuclear sites but on its missile bases—specifically aiming to prevent Iran from moving its missiles from storage to its launchpads.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
-
President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff meet with Iranian officials for five round of talks aimed at reaching a deal.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
The handcrafted sliders in the room are curved without a flaw — and so is the furniture positioned against the walls and the shelves above.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
14 June 2025
-
And young French people, thankfully, are not buying my romanticism—the trend line curves downward more dramatically for them.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share