variants
or backwards
1
as in back
toward the rear
looking backward, we could see the town receding in the distance
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Relevance
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2
as in around
toward the opposite direction
the loud noise prompted him to glance backward to see what was happening
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1
2
as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
curiously, the quiet, backward man opened up when around other introverts
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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
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2
as in to devote
to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention
bent herself to the task for the rest of the day
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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
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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
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6
as in to attach
to cause (something) to hold to another
bend a leash to the dog's collar
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1
as in curvature
something that curves or is curved
it's hard to see around that bend in the road, so be careful
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Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.
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