as in collapsing
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
the well-meaning gesture boomeranged, since he ended up being offended by it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 boomeranging
The idea of Miami boomeranging from 7-10 to make the playoffs next year and maybe even end that playoff-victory drought is not be crazy.
—
Greg Cote
january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
Greg Cote
january 26, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boomeranging
Verb
-
The pipe was being used as a retaining structure to keep the surrounding soil from collapsing during the operation, officials said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The global leader in oilfield services trading as if energy demand were collapsing, despite one of the most volatile oil supply environments in decades.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Both teams … the Heat and the Wizards … conspired with their flopping and intentional fouling to get him to 83.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Shawkat, with her warm, amused eyes and her mop of curls, is a perfect carrier for Mae’s air of abjection, flopping around her bed like a horny, gloomy Raggedy Ann.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But, more than that, there’s a danger for the governor of this advertising campaign backfiring.—
Larry Wilson,
Oc Register,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Tehran's aim with the missile and drone fire has likely been to pressure the Gulf's monarchies to push their allies in Washington to end the war, but the Iranian calculus appears to be backfiring.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boomeranging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boomeranging. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
