BOOMERANG Synonyms: 16 Similar and Opposite Words

boomerang

verb

Definition of boomerang

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

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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 boomerang Time-and-date karma was always going to boomerang. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 Bare nails seem to boomerang around in the culture every other year as a sort of palette cleanser. — Sable Yong, Allure, 11 June 2026 The ball skidded though the green, banged off the Truist fencing and boomeranged right back into the same bunker. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2026 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 Those lower judges eventually rejected his arguments, and Reed boomeranged back to the justices. — Ella Lee, The Hill, 25 Mar. 2026 The second season finale saw Deborah fire Ava to free her up to be her own person and chase her career, only for the two to boomerang back together. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 May 2026 Today, Netanyahu’s boast has boomeranged, transformed from an electoral asset into an advertisement of his diminished influence. — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026 Mary, our thirtysomething narrator, has recently boomeranged back to her hometown (York) after experiencing a break with reality that may or may not be psychotic. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for boomerang

Verb

Parliament's attempt to regulate has backfired, creating a more opaque and less controllable environment for youth social media use.

— John Tamny, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
And again, many of the reforms backfired or proved injudicious, but some of them remain powerful to this day.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026

Definition of backfire

Verb

The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.

— Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
The dogs, specially trained to detect human scent, have spent days searching for people trapped beneath the rubble of nearly 200 buildings that collapsed following the two powerful back-to-back earthquakes.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of collapse

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boomed

boomerang

boomeranged

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“Boomerang.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boomerang. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of boomerang

verb

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