blowback

noun

Definition of blowbacknext
as in fallout

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar 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 blowback The Meta posts are likely mindful of the resulting blowback and the calls to slow down AI development in response. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026 Spitzer acknowledged the blowback in an interview with The Times. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Advertisement Thus, the crisis of liberal democracy after 9/11 might be better understood not simply as a blowback from the war on terror, but as an aftershock of socialism’s collapse. — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026 The initial memes surrounding Kirk were, in some ways, a blowback to that reaction. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blowback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blowback
  1. fallout
  2. by-product
  3. side effect
  4. offshoot
Noun
  • Further information on the international leadership team is not yet available, as the transaction is set to close on Tuesday and operational fallout will continue well into the months ahead.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
  • And in a region already suffering from aid shortages, and anticipating even greater food insecurity from this year’s El Nino, humanitarians are rightly nervous about a potential catastrophic fallout.
    — Cameron Hudson, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of fallout
Noun
  • Clark notes that researchers can’t yet say whether unusual tidiness in Jonathan’s genes keeps him alive or is a by-product of something else entirely.
    — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Hydrogen, on the other hand, offers a cleaner way to run high-power applications, since its combustion produces water as a by-product and no carbon emissions.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of by-product
Noun
  • Eventually, Ley hopes, the results could help fight this side effect of vaccines and, by extension, encourage higher vaccination rates.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
  • With more widespread use, however, a rare, life-threatening side effect known as agranulocytosis (a severe reduction in white blood cells) emerged, prompting clozapine’s withdrawal from the market.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of side effect
Noun
  • And this is an offshoot and a companion product to the J490 smart home display.
    — Stevie Bonifield, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a small militant group believed to be an offshoot of the TTP, claimed responsibility.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of offshoot

Browse Nearby Words

blow away
blowback
blowbacks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blowback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blowback. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on blowback

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blowback

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of galore

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All