boomeranging

verb

present participle of boomerang
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

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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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boomeranging
  1. collapsing
  2. flopping
  3. backfiring
Verb
  • She’d previously been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition that can be brought on by overexertion, after collapsing from lower-body cramping and temporary leg paralysis during a 2025 playoff series against the Las Vegas Aces.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • One that is visibly collapsing under the weight of its scared cows.
    — Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapsing
Verb
  • The video shows the peacock, referred to by some in the neighborhood as Sugar, seemingly flopping around then collapsing.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The papers were flopping off the edge of his desk, trembling in the breeze from the window; her hand reached out to stop them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of flopping
Verb
  • But the weak-yen policy her party championed for decades is now backfiring in real time.
    — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Or the war inside Iran by a regime whose new fear campaign against its people appears to be backfiring?
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of backfiring

Browse Nearby Words

boomeranged
boomeranging
boomerangs
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Cite this Entry

“Boomeranging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boomeranging. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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