backfire

The word “backfire” has 2 syllables: back-fire

It's pronounced as /ˈbækˌfaɪər/


What is synonym and antonym for backfire?

In the thesaurus, “backfire” has 32 synonyms and 6 antonyms.

Here are synonyms and antonyms for backfire along with examples of usage in sentences.


Synonyms for backfire

  • arson
  • backlash
  • blaze
  • bonfire
  • boomerang
  • bounce back
  • brush fire
  • campfire
  • collapse
  • conflagration
  • decline
  • disappoint
  • fail
  • flare-up
  • flop
  • flounder
  • flunk
  • fold
  • forest fire
  • holocaust
  • inferno
  • miscarry
  • rebound
  • recoil
  • ricochet
  • slip
  • slump
  • spring back
  • struggle
  • wane
  • wash out
  • wildfire

Antonyms for backfire

Meanings of backfire

  • noun
    1. A small, controlled fire set in the path of a larger uncontrolled fire, in order to limit the spread of the large fire by removing its fuel.
    2. An explosion produced either by a running internal combustion engine that occurs in the air intake or exhaust system rather than inside the combustion chamber or unburned fuel or hydrocarbons ignited somewhere in the exhaust system.
    3. A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in the wrong direction.
    4. An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.
  • verb
    1. (of a gun, cannon, Bunsen burner, etc.) To fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.
    2. (of an engine) To experience a premature ignition of fuel or an ignition of exhaust gases, making a popping sound.
    3. To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.

Example Sentences

  • His attempt to play a prank on his friend unexpectedly backfired.
  • The deceptive strategy seemed promising initially but ultimately backfired.
  • Trying to manipulate the situation could easily backfire and lead to negative consequences.
  • The plan to sabotage the competition's product ended up being a backfire for the company.
  • Hoping to gain sympathy, the politician's actions instead backfired and damaged their reputation.

On this page you'll find 38 synonyms, antonyms, or another words to backfire, such as: accomplish, achieve, arson, backlash, blaze, bonfire, boomerang.

Make sure to choose synonyms and antonyms that are appropriate for the context of the sentence.

Related Words

backlash

  • answer
  • backfire
  • boomerang
  • counteraction
  • counterreaction
  • counterresponse
  • kickback
  • reaction
  • rebound
  • recoil
  • reflex
  • repercussion
  • reply
  • resentment
  • resistance
  • response
  • retaliation
  • retroaction
  • revulsion
  • rise
  • take
  • tangle

campfire

  • arson
  • backfire
  • bivouac
  • blaze
  • bonfire
  • brush fire
  • campground
  • camping ground
  • caravansary
  • chalet
  • charring
  • coals
  • combustion
  • conflagration
  • cottage
  • devouring
  • element
  • embers
  • encampment
  • flame and smoke
  • flames
  • flare
  • flare-up
  • forest fire
  • glow
  • hearth
  • heat
  • holocaust
  • hot spot
  • hut
  • incandescence
  • inferno
  • lean-to
  • lodge
  • log cabin
  • luminosity
  • oxidation
  • phlogiston
  • pyre
  • rapid oxidation
  • scintillation
  • scorching
  • sea of flames
  • searing
  • shack
  • shanty
  • shed
  • sparks
  • summer home
  • tent
  • tent city
  • tepee
  • tilt
  • tinder
  • up in smoke
  • warmth
  • wigwam
  • wildfire

campfires

  • arsons
  • backfires
  • blazes
  • bonfires
  • brush fires
  • conflagrations
  • flare-ups
  • forest fires
  • holocausts
  • infernos
  • wildfires

fall flat

  • abort
  • back wrong horse
  • backfire
  • backslide
  • baffle
  • balk
  • be defeated
  • be demoted
  • be found lacking
  • be in vain
  • be ruined
  • bite the dust
  • blunder
  • bomb
  • break down
  • bring to naught
  • bump
  • bungle
  • bust
  • cast down
  • chagrin
  • circumvent
  • close
  • collapse
  • collide
  • come a cropper
  • come apart
  • come to grief
  • come to naught
  • come to nothing
  • come up empty
  • crash
  • crash-land
  • crater
  • crumble
  • dash
  • dash hopes
  • deceive
  • decline
  • delude
  • deteriorate
  • die
  • die on the vine
  • disconcert
  • disenchant
  • disgruntle
  • dishearten
  • disillusion
  • dissatisfy
  • ditch
  • dive
  • drive into
  • drop
  • dumbfound
  • embitter
  • explode
  • fail
  • fall
  • fall down on
  • fall headlong
  • fall prostrate
  • fall short
  • fall short of
  • fall through
  • fizz out
  • fizzle
  • fizzle out
  • flame out
  • flop
  • flounder
  • flummox
  • flunk
  • foil
  • fold
  • founder
  • give way
  • go astray
  • go down
  • go down swinging
  • go downhill
  • go in
  • go under
  • go up in smoke
  • go wrong
  • hamper
  • hinder
  • hit bottom
  • hit the skids
  • hurtle
  • implode
  • lay an egg
  • leave in the lurch
  • let down
  • lose control
  • lose out
  • lose status
  • lurch
  • meet
  • meet with disaster
  • miscarry
  • misfire
  • mislead
  • miss
  • miss fire
  • miss the boat
  • miss the mark
  • not show
  • overbalance
  • overturn
  • pancake
  • peter out
  • pitch
  • play into
  • plough into
  • plunge
  • poop out
  • prang
  • put out
  • ruin prospects
  • run aground
  • self-destruct
  • sink
  • skid
  • slip
  • slump
  • smash
  • splash down
  • sprawl
  • stall
  • stand up
  • strike out
  • struggle
  • tank
  • tease
  • thwart
  • topple
  • torment
  • tumble
  • turn out badly
  • underwhelm
  • upset
  • vex
  • wane
  • wash out
  • washout

fall short

  • abandon
  • abate
  • abort
  • abstain
  • atrophy
  • back wrong horse
  • backfire
  • backslide
  • be careless
  • be defeated
  • be demoted
  • be deprived of
  • be found lacking
  • be impoverished
  • be in vain
  • be late for
  • be reduced
  • be ruined
  • become poorer
  • bereave
  • blow
  • blunder
  • bomb
  • botch
  • break down
  • bust
  • capitulate
  • close
  • collapse
  • come a cropper
  • come apart
  • come to grief
  • come to naught
  • come to nothing
  • come up empty
  • compress
  • concentrate
  • condense
  • constrict
  • consume
  • contract
  • crash
  • crater
  • crumble
  • decline
  • decrease
  • default
  • deflate
  • deplete
  • depress
  • deteriorate
  • die
  • die away
  • die down
  • die on the vine
  • die out
  • dim
  • diminish
  • disenchant
  • disillusion
  • disinherit
  • displace
  • dispossess
  • disregard
  • dissatisfy
  • dissipate
  • divest
  • do without
  • drain
  • draw to a close
  • drop
  • drop off
  • drop the ball
  • dwindle
  • ease off
  • ebb
  • err
  • exhaust
  • expend
  • explode
  • fade
  • fade away
  • fail
  • fail to keep
  • fall
  • fall flat
  • fall flat on face
  • fall off
  • fall through
  • fizz out
  • fizzle
  • fizzle out
  • flame out
  • flop
  • flounder
  • flub
  • flummox
  • flunk
  • fold
  • forfeit
  • forget
  • founder
  • fumble
  • give up
  • go astray
  • go down
  • go down swinging
  • go downhill
  • go short
  • go under
  • go up in smoke
  • go wrong
  • grow smaller
  • hit bottom
  • hit the skids
  • ignore
  • implode
  • juggle
  • lack
  • lavish
  • lay an egg
  • leave in lurch
  • leave stranded
  • lessen
  • let go
  • let slip
  • let up
  • lose
  • lose control
  • lose out
  • lose status
  • lower
  • meet with disaster
  • miscarry
  • misfire
  • mislay
  • misplace
  • miss
  • miss fire
  • miss the boat
  • miss the mark
  • misspend
  • moderate
  • muff
  • narrow
  • need
  • neglect
  • omit
  • oust
  • overlook
  • overshoot
  • pass over
  • pass up
  • peter out
  • play into
  • poop out
  • pull down
  • reduce
  • relent
  • relinquish
  • rob
  • run aground
  • sacrifice
  • self-destruct
  • shorten
  • shrink
  • shrivel
  • sink
  • skid
  • skip
  • slack off
  • slacken
  • slight
  • slip
  • slump
  • squander
  • stall
  • strike out
  • struggle
  • subside
  • suffer
  • suffer loss
  • surrender
  • take down
  • tank
  • taper off
  • trip
  • trip up
  • turn out badly
  • undershoot
  • underwhelm
  • use up
  • wane
  • want
  • wash out
  • waste
  • waste away
  • weaken
  • wind down
  • wither
  • wrinkle
  • yield

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