as in to collapse
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up thinking that everyone had forgotten her birthday
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in forest fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of backfire
Julia Sullivan, SELF, 27 Nov. 2024
And some economists warned that Trump’s plans could backfire.
—Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
Jolie Myers, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Well, the ritual backfires, leaving Jennifer a half-girl, half-demon who has to feast on unsuspecting boys to survive.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backfire 
Verb
Being kind and thankful toward yourself has its benefits, sure, but trying to force a silver lining into hardships can backfire.
—Julia Sullivan, SELF, 27 Nov. 2024
And some economists warned that Trump’s plans could backfire.
—Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
Noun
This means a company that adopts a fully in-office policy team could see the plan backfire, according to Nick Bloom, a professor of economics at Stanford University who studies workplace trends.
—Jolie Myers, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Well, the ritual backfires, leaving Jennifer a half-girl, half-demon who has to feast on unsuspecting boys to survive.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backfire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfire
Verb
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After France's government collapses:Macron names Francois Bayrou prime minister Scholz has been Germany's chancellor since late 2021, replacing conservative Angela Merkel, who spent 16 years in the role.Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
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It’s been anemic for decades but refusing to collapse, like so many empires.Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The film earned mostly negative reviews and flopped at the box office with $58 million domestically and $206 million worldwide, a far cry from the 2019 original’s $1 billion gross.Zack Sharf, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
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This past weekend, McCord led the Orangemen over the Miami Hurricanes in a major upset while Ohio State....once again flopped against Michigan.Don Yaeger, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The City of Malibu warned residents to prepare for potential wildfires, power outages, hazardous roads and malfunctioning traffic signals.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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Poor air quality from wildfires, vehicle exhaust, factories, and other sources takes a toll on lung health—but mounting research suggests that breathing unhealthy air can also put people at a greater risk of developing autoimmune diseases.Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Activities ranged from yoga classes and forest hikes with the resident goats to watercolor painting, s’mores bonfires, and artisanal honey tastings that perfectly captured the upstate vibe.Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Dec. 2024
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The event include ice sculptures, a bonfire, food trucks, a Special Olympics Polar Plunge and live music.Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The sleek device is programmed with 20 sounds, some of which include white noise, rain, birds, a campfire, and waves.Toni Sutton, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
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Coleman Portable Camping Chair Stay comfortable sitting around the campfire with this camping chair.Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near backfire
Cite this Entry
“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfire. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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