variants
or backwards
1
as in back
toward the rear
looking backward, we could see the town receding in the distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in down
toward the opposite direction
the loud noise prompted him to glance backward to see what was happening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
curiously, the quiet, backward man opened up when around other introverts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of backward
Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2025
Loosely based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the film tells the tale of Benjamin Button, who is born with the appearance and strength of an elderly man and ultimately ages backward into infancy.
—Derek Scancarelli, EW.com, 27 June 2025
Bill Hineline, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Victor states that intention from the first scene in an award-winning screenplay that jumps forward and backward in time.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
The docking pilot directed the ship to move backward – instructions that were acknowledged by the captain, translated into Spanish and relayed to crewmembers, the report said.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2025
Loosely based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the film tells the tale of Benjamin Button, who is born with the appearance and strength of an elderly man and ultimately ages backward into infancy.
—Derek Scancarelli, EW.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
That backward approach can lead to data overload and unclear goals.
—Bill Hineline, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Victor states that intention from the first scene in an award-winning screenplay that jumps forward and backward in time.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
McManus brought stability back to what had been the weakest spot on the roster and was a big reason Green Bay earned a trip to the postseason.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
After a phone call with the president of the European Commission, Trump reneged and agreed to go back to the July 9 deadline.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
12 July 2025
Adverb
-
Consider traveling with a compact Starlink Mini, as satellite internet often remains operational even when other internet services are down.—
Skye Sherman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 July 2025
-
This was down from 17,972 in the prior financial year, and below a forecast 16,800-17,200.—
Royston Wild,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
On the precipice of artificial intelligence (AI) robotics, the company executed a 1-for-8 reverse split intended to streamline internal structures for future growth.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
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But even if writing about Paris helped ease the transition, my mind was still flailing in this last codified stage, reverse language shock.—
Benedict Nguyễn
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
Often, people that indulge in this type of culture are considered anti-social or withdrawn, a stereotype that has been passed around for years.—
Dominick Williams,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2025
-
People become irritable, withdrawn, or hyper-independent.—
Barnaby Lashbrooke,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adverb
-
Each is wrapped in graceful exterior lines and curves that sweep rearward from a massive hood that evokes a classic Jaguar XKE from the 1960’s.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
As do the side vents, and the hood lines that start from the badge and flare outward and rearward, giving the front end more presence.—
Sean Evans,
Robb Report,
5 Aug. 2024
Adverb
-
The crash occurred at around 1 a.m. when a white Mercedes SUV was heading the wrong way on the southbound lanes of the highway near Okeechobee Road, FHP says.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
-
Earlier Monday, around 9:15 a.m., the weather service reported seeing heavy rainfall along the Rio Grande and in the southern Edwards Plateau, with radar estimating rainfall rates of up to 3 inches an hour.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Guests did not shy from donning some of the designer’s more out-there creations.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
9 July 2025
-
Talk about Travis Scott starts just shy of the 1:30 mark.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Veteran closer Aroldis Chapman is expected to be the lone Red Sox player to take part in Tuesday’s game, which will be played at Truist Park in Atlanta starting at 8 p.m.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
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While Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg — the lone cast member to be Oscar-nominated here — get the showier roles, Leo gives a more internal performance as Billy Costigan Jr., a rookie cop who was broken long before going undercover.—
Derek Lawrence,
EW.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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