as in to backfire
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
the well-meaning gesture boomeranged, since he ended up being offended by it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boomerang
Verb
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Instead, it’s turned into a tragedy of errors: Injuries piling up like unpaid bills A trade that backfired A suspension that gutted the bench A coach who still can’t find the right lineup Antetokounmpo will drag this squad into the playoffs—his sheer force of will is the stuff of legend.—
Brian Sampson,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025 -
But the strategy backfired, with regulators viewing C&S as an inadequate buyer, according to the filing.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The quake also caused a skyscraper in Bangkok, Thailand, to collapse.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
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Dramatic videos show buildings collapsing and swaying in Thailand. 4:09 A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake rattled much of Southeast Asia on Friday, resulting in mounting casualties and flattened skyscrapers from Myanmar to Thailand.—
Mark Osborne,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Even Dan Wolken, USA TODAY's most seasoned NCAA March Madness reporter, has already seen his picks flop.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2025
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The illusion appears to be working until the glue holding the toy together weakens, and the plastic barrel flops downward like a middle-aged Casanova after too many whiskeys.—
Chris Klimek,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Boomerang.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boomerang. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
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