BACKFIRING Synonyms: 16 Similar and Opposite Words

backfiring

verb

present participle of backfire

as in collapsing

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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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 backfiring The plan appears to be backfiring spectacularly, at least in south Texas. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 And as anyone who’s ever seen a science-fiction movie knows, megadoses have a way of backfiring. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 But then others questioned the group’s independence, highlighted LTF’s controversial and backfiring track record, and worried about the super PAC’s toxic effect on OpenAI’s brand and retention of senior researchers. — Garrison Lovely, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 That seemingly sound advice from the master of the field now risks backfiring, Doctorow argued. — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026 Yet, on so many fronts, Trump’s assertion of that power appears to be backfiring. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026 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 With the decision to keep Cole in backfiring and the Bombers’ bats silent against Roki Sasaki and the Dodgers’ bullpen, the Yankees began their second half with a 2-1 loss to the back-to-back champions. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfiring

Verb

Musk did not understand that in India, as in much of the world, trust in America is collapsing.

— Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Pushing the ball in transition, George made contact with Detroit guard Duncan Robinson before dramatically collapsing to the floor in an Oscar-worthy attempt to bait a whistle.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of collapsing

Verb

Because the flopping infraction carries no suspension, George remains fully cleared to suit up Friday when Boston hosts his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
The tall foliage of bearded iris (Iris germanica) begins flopping early in the growing season.

— Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of flopping

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backfires

backfiring

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“Backfiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfiring. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of backfiring

verb

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