backsides

noun

plural of backside
as in cheeks
the part of the body upon which someone sits our backsides were sore after sitting on those hard benches for so long

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 backsides Makar’s very presence seemed to give the visitors a kick up their collective backsides. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 May 2026 No, there would be no pulling another rabbit out of a hat, no pulling another win from their backsides, no comeback this time. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026 Their backsides are not enough. — Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026 When the coach did something inappropriate or abusive—ogling them in the showers, leaving his hand on their backsides a count or two too long, rubbing their thigh on a car ride to their homes—they’d simply grin and bear it. — Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 7 Jan. 2026 The tourism hub is lined with hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment spots, but the council says lewd messages sprawled across the backsides of storefront mannequins and tongue-in-cheek T-shirts are tarnishing the area’s wholesome image. — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backsides
  1. cheeks
  2. bums
  3. seats
  4. tails
  5. rumps
  6. behinds
Noun
  • Hernandez, 17, might be the most fascinating addition of the entire deadline, a both-cheeks swing of an acquisition that might take the better part of a decade to connect.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The facial fat pads that create fullness in the cheeks and temples sometimes shrink faster than skin can retract, producing a characteristic hollowing and laxity.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheeks
Noun
  • The Coliseum stayed in business for 500 years, bums in seats twice a week, watching people hack each other to death.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • History buffs, avid hikers, music lovers, wine aficionados, and beach bums will all find a town to love in the Old Dominion.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Definition of bums
Noun
  • As a result of the one-time three-year terms, the city would sync up with the even-year election cycle for those seats in 2034 and 2036, respectively.
    — Tess Riski July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Contrast that with some of the football stadia back home built in the last 15-20 years where, beyond the spelling out of a club’s name on the appropriately coloured seats, there’s precious little hint as to who resides there.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of seats
Noun
  • Brand crisps up a variety of tails ranging from salmon to cod to tilefish in the oven and assesses their flavors and textures.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 29 July 2026
  • With the advent of breed standards and clubs in the early 1900s, an official criteria for a proper Lab, such as otter tails, water resistant coats and wide skulls, became more concrete.
    — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 24 July 2026
Definition of tails
Noun
  • Yellow-rumps, as birders call them, have been seen migrating through northern Illinois even in April and late March.
    — Sheryl DeVore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The women stood on the doorsteps with their rumps to the crowd, skirts lifted to flash tattered green knickers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of rumps
Noun
  • Catalogs, booklets and leave-behinds can carry a brand story longer than a QR code and scroll can.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Two teams of American stars and one of players representing nine other countries competed their behinds off in one of the most thrilling All-Star games ever.
    — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Definition of behinds

Browse Nearby Words

backside
backsides
backslapper
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backsides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backsides. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on backsides

Nglish: Translation of backsides for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All