backfire 1 of 2

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

backfire

2 of 2

noun

Examples 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 backfire
Verb
Which is also why Bragg's show trial backfired, making Trump a martyr and helping propel him back into the White House (most people don't like politicized justice, and will side with the victims of it, however otherwise unsavory). Bradley Gitz, arkansasonline.com, 23 Dec. 2024 His instinct—to have a heart-to-heart conversation about how their behavior affected others—has the potential to backfire spectacularly. Nik Ershov, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
Ever had feedback backfire, leaving you feeling like the bad guy, even when your intentions were good? Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 In addition, though Campbell’s risks have paid off almost all season, could his fourth-down strategy backfire in the postseason? Andrew Greif, NBC News, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for backfire 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfire
Verb
  • That are easy to hold during runs, collapse totally flat for travel, and come with straws for sipping?
    Alexis Berger, SELF, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Six months later, his rating had collapsed, to just 40 percent.
    David Frum, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • If the main trunk of the jade has gotten wildly overgrown and is flopping over under its own weight, lop it off.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Which leads us to Better Man’s bitterest irony: All anecdotal evidence suggests the movie flopped precisely because the Williams-as-mo-cap-chimp conceit was just too highbrow to put butts in seats.
    Chris Lee, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Advertisement In a separate statement released Thursday, the FAA warned against flying drones near the wildfires.
    Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Nearly 180,000 people have been forced to evacuate because of the ongoing wildfires.
    Denise Chow, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • As Christmas trees were incinerated in a giant bonfire in Ogden Dunes, Daina Lattimer and her daughter Vaiva Lattimer, 11, watched.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Some of Wenzel's favorite memories with Megan were made that summer, trying new coffee shops in downtown Waukesha, hiking the Seven Bridges Trail, gazing at the northern lights and hosting bonfires.
    Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Hope for his survival grew when trash and hiking poles thought to belong to him were found by a river on New Year’s Eve, followed by a campfire, a lighter, a camera and a camera bag on Sunday.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Most are accidental, like an unattended campfire or sparks from a powerline.
    Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near backfire

Cite this Entry

“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfire. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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