boomerang

verb

Definition of boomerangnext
as in to backfire
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for boomerang
  1. backfire
  2. collapse
  3. flop
Verb
  • Bank industry leaders warn, however, that the cap could backfire on the most vulnerable bank customers, who rely on overdraft protection to keep them solvent.
    Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Though her phrasing may have been harsh, the underlying message resonates—celebrity endorsements often fail to sway voters and typically backfire.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of backfire
Verb
  • It’s been anemic for decades but refusing to collapse, like so many empires.
    Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
  • 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
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • During this two-year period, a mix of crafty and bumbling crooks took advantage of a tax loophole that — not unlike the plot hatched in Mel Brooks’ The Producers — allowed labels to write off losses on albums that had supposedly flopped.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024
  • The pre-flop raiser had pocket Aces (AA) and flopped top set.
    Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Definition of flop
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near boomerang

boomed

boomerang

boomeranged

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Cite this Entry

“Boomerang.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boomerang. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on boomerang

Nglish: Translation of boomerang for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boomerang

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