Synonyms for backfire
ˈbækˌfaɪərback·fire

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1. blowback, backfirenoun

   the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired

   Synonyms:
   boomerang, blowback

2. backfirenoun

   a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine

   Synonyms:
   boomerang, blowback

3. backfirenoun

   a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path

   Synonyms:
   boomerang, blowback

4. backfire, boomerangverb

   a miscalculation that recoils on its maker

   Synonyms:
   throw stick, boomerang, throwing stick, blowback

5. backfire, backlash, recoilverb

   come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect

   "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble"

   Synonyms:
   rebound, spring, quail, flinch, bound, funk, kick, squinch, ricochet, kick back, cringe, bounce, backlash, wince, recoil, resile, reverberate, take a hop, shrink

6. backfireverb

   emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire

   "My old car backfires all the time"

   Synonyms:
   recoil, backlash

7. backfireverb

   set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire

   Synonyms:
   recoil, backlash

Matched Categories

1. • Explosion
   • Fire
   • Noise

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How to use backfire in a sentence?

1. Jesse Hunt:

   What we saw in Virginia and in New Jersey was that people's concerns about affordability and the workforce returning to where it was pre-pandemic, and anything that contributes to these employers' ability to earn a living, is going to backfire on these Democratic governors, right now, economic concerns reign supreme in voters' minds.

2. Greg Valliere:

   Politicians can seek retribution in terms of tax policy or regulations. It's a fine line these companies have to walk. This could backfire if they're too aggressive.

3. Andrew Ames:

   You saw bursts of flames, little flames shooting out from the engine, it almost looked like backfire flames from a motorcycle or car.

4. Helal Miah:

   Cost cuts and other strategic initiatives are still ongoing and should be welcomed by investors, but strategies, such as taking the brand even more upmarket, have the potential to backfire and alienate traditional customers as we have seen with other brands in the industry.

5. Justice Neil Gorsuch Ron Bonjean:

   Ronald Krotoszynski Jr. said. However, former communication strategist for Justice Neil Gorsuch Ron Bonjean warned that such a push by Democrats could backfire and rile up the conservative base for the midterms. I think that would just fire up the conservative base big time and... conservative voters would n’t like that and they ’d be pretty fired up going into the November elections, that’s for sure.