backfires 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of backfire
as in collapses
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

backfires

2 of 2

noun

plural of backfire
as in forest fires

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Example 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 backfires
Verb
Continue reading … WORD PROBLEMS — El-Sayed's threat against GOP rival backfires as conservatives bring receipts. — FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Shift From Providing Answers To Developing Leaders One challenge was learning that expertise alone doesn't create lasting impact and ultimately backfires as the scope and scale of responsibility grow. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 But a brand that states its conclusion boldly without backing it up may find that the same trick backfires. — Matthew Pittman, The Conversation, 17 July 2026 Chopper 4 footage showed large flames burning through trees near the turnpike as crews lit backfires—a tactic used to extinguish a wildfire by burning fuel ahead of the approaching fire line. — Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 19 June 2026 When C-suite talk backfires The very political job of leading a company requires an agile communication style and the ability to quickly tailor language and messaging to meet the moment at hand. — Claire Zillman, Fortune, 28 May 2026 The acting attorney general's attempt to answer those questions backfires. — ABC News, 24 May 2026 Alcohol as a sleep aid backfires by reducing REM sleep and worsening overall sleep quality. — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026 Aggressive grout scrubbing is another well-meaning habit that backfires. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfires
  1. collapses
  2. wildfires
  3. flops
  4. bonfires
Verb
  • But the serial killer arc feels more and more tacked on as the season collapses into itself.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
  • And The Margin Trap If a facility cannot support next-generation computing when an anchor lease expires, terminal value collapses.
    — Dr. Dick Bridy, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapses
Noun
  • Critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions are threatening parts of the Northwest this weekend bringing the threat of dangerous, rapidly spreading wildfires.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Lynskey suggests that there might be some way to grasp the significance of events like the unprecedented wildfires in Europe without giving in to dread.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wildfires
Verb
  • Starter addition flops Last season’s trade deadline wound up being a big flop.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The second play shows that this column isn't really about whether Clark flops.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of flops
Noun
  • The ban prohibits most outdoor fires, including those for trash disposal, yard debris, land clearing, bonfires, and campfires not contained in structures such as fire rings.
    — Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The resort features a 2,000-foot private beach for days spent in the sun and evening beach bonfires during the summer.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of bonfires

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backfired
backfires
backfiring
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Cite this Entry

“Backfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfires. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on backfires

Nglish: Translation of backfires for Spanish Speakers

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