back·fire
ˈbak-ˌfī(-ə)r 
backfired; backfiring; backfires
1
: to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
their plans backfired
2
: to make or undergo a backfire
1
: a loud noise caused by the improperly timed explosion of fuel mixture in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
2
: a fire started to check an advancing fire by clearing an area
Synonyms
Examples of backfire in a Sentence
Verb
my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up thinking that everyone had forgotten her birthday
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
This suggests that Trump ought to be wary of tariff fights backfiring.
—Einav Rabinovitch-Fox / Made By History, TIME, 7 Jan. 2025
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
Could Neely’s bluntness backfire and further fray the hard feelings that seemingly go back to last year’s arbitration case?
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2024
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Verb
While hope is powerful, placing too much pressure on yourself—or a potential partner—can backfire.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
This suggests that Trump ought to be wary of tariff fights backfiring.
—Einav Rabinovitch-Fox / Made By History, TIME, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
Unproblematic fave Keanu Reeves stars as a guardian angel who loses his wings after his plan to magically prove that money can’t buy happiness spectacularly backfires.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
Could Neely’s bluntness backfire and further fray the hard feelings that seemingly go back to last year’s arbitration case?
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backfire
Dictionary Entries Near backfire
Cite this Entry
“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backfire. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backfire
1 of 2 noun
back·fire
-ˌfī(ə)r
1
: a fire that is set to check the spread of a forest fire or a grass fire by burning off a strip of land ahead of it
2
: a loud noise caused by the improperly timed explosion of fuel in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
backfire
2 of 2 verb1
: to make a backfire
2
: to have a result opposite to what was planned
their plans backfired
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