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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Recent Examples of backfiring
However, this caution appears to be backfiring.
—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026
The president’s attacks and threats on Fed policymakers themselves are also backfiring.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
The overconfidence of the pro-Trump push in country music pre- and postelection is backfiring on many of its most enthusiastic emissaries.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Red Lobster's push to lure diners with cheap deals may be backfiring, with one retail expert warning the strategy could be attracting the wrong customer as losses continue to mount.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Maura Healey, posing with a powerful weapon in her hands, joins a long list of pols whose political pandering to hunters and gun owners could end up backfiring.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
But, more than that, there’s a danger for the governor of this advertising campaign backfiring.
—Larry Wilson, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Tehran's aim with the missile and drone fire has likely been to pressure the Gulf's monarchies to push their allies in Washington to end the war, but the Iranian calculus appears to be backfiring.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The result is an eventual cough that produces a sound comparable to a car backfiring through a bag of gelatine.
—Alexis Wilkinson, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026
The president’s attacks and threats on Fed policymakers themselves are also backfiring.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
The overconfidence of the pro-Trump push in country music pre- and postelection is backfiring on many of its most enthusiastic emissaries.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Red Lobster's push to lure diners with cheap deals may be backfiring, with one retail expert warning the strategy could be attracting the wrong customer as losses continue to mount.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Maura Healey, posing with a powerful weapon in her hands, joins a long list of pols whose political pandering to hunters and gun owners could end up backfiring.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
But, more than that, there’s a danger for the governor of this advertising campaign backfiring.
—Larry Wilson, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Tehran's aim with the missile and drone fire has likely been to pressure the Gulf's monarchies to push their allies in Washington to end the war, but the Iranian calculus appears to be backfiring.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
The result is an eventual cough that produces a sound comparable to a car backfiring through a bag of gelatine.
—Alexis Wilkinson, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfiring
Verb
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As this process is the main source of energy produced by the sun, this will mean the outward pressure that stops the sun from collapsing under its own gravity also ceases.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
And what's the difference between weakening and collapsing?—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This was inevitable after McCollum inadvertently kicked Jalen Brunson in the groin, then accused the Knicks star of flopping in Game 1; and then got into a heated spat with Jose Alvarado before sinking the game-winning jumper in Game 2.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Meyers asked if Winkler had any sense during previews that the show was flopping.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfiring. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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