Synonyms for backward
ˈbæk wərdback·ward

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. backwardadjective

   Synonyms:
   backwards

   Antonyms:
   forwards, forward

2. backwardadverb

   Antonyms:
   progressive

3. backwardadjective

   Pertaining to the direction towards the back.

   Synonyms:
   backwards

   Antonyms:
   forward, forwards

4. backwardadjective

   Synonyms:
   retrograde

5. backwardadjective

   Synonyms:
   third world

   Antonyms:
   forward

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. backward

   Reluctant (Latin re, back, and lucto, strive, struggle) signifies struggling against what one is urged or impelled to do, or is actually doing; averse (Latin a, from, and verto, turn) signifies turned away as with dislike or repugnance; loath (Anglo-Saxon lath, evil, hateful) signifies having a repugnance, disgust, or loathing for, tho the adjective loath is not so strong as the verb loathe. A dunce is always averse to study; a good student is disinclined to it when a fine morning tempts him out; he is indisposed to it in some hour of weariness. A man may be slow or backward in entering upon that to which he is by no means averse. A man is loath to believe evil of his friend, reluctant to speak of it, absolutely unwilling to use it to his injury. A legislator may be opposed to a certain measure, while not averse to what it aims to accomplish. Compare ANTIPATHY.

   Synonyms:
   averse, disinclined, indisposed, loath, opposed, reluctant, slow, unwilling

   Antonyms:
   desirous, disposed, eager, favorable, inclined, willing

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. backwardadjective

   directed or facing toward the back or rear

   "a backward view"

   Synonyms:
   feebleminded, slow-witted, half-witted

   Antonyms:
   sassy, headlong, guardant(ip), nervy, smart, presumptuous, gardant(ip), cheeky, saucy, forward, full-face, self-assertive, brash, precocious, impertinent, wise, assumptive, fresh, headfirst, overbold, bumptious, overfamiliar, dynamical, dynamic, impudent, assuming, forrad, forrard, forwards, frontwards, frontward, ahead

2. backwardadjective

   (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature

   "a backward lover"

   Synonyms:
   feebleminded, slow-witted, half-witted

   Antonyms:
   self-assertive, forward, gardant(ip), headlong, assuming, bumptious, overfamiliar, impudent, wise, brash, presumptuous, dynamical, fresh, assumptive, headfirst, impertinent, precocious, smart, nervy, saucy, full-face, sassy, guardant(ip), dynamic, overbold, cheeky, ahead, forwards, frontward, frontwards, forrad, forrard

3. backward, half-witted, slow-witted, feeblemindedadjective

   retarded in intellectual development

   Synonyms:
   feebleminded, slow-witted, half-witted

   Antonyms:
   overfamiliar, wise, headfirst, nervy, sassy, guardant(ip), brash, gardant(ip), forward, fresh, cheeky, presumptuous, smart, dynamic, headlong, assumptive, full-face, impudent, self-assertive, precocious, dynamical, bumptious, saucy, impertinent, overbold, assuming, forrad, frontwards, forwards, forrard, ahead, frontward

4. backwardadverb

   having made less than normal progress

   "an economically backward country"

   Synonyms:
   feebleminded, slow-witted, half-witted

   Antonyms:
   smart, assumptive, gardant(ip), overfamiliar, brash, guardant(ip), saucy, cheeky, assuming, overbold, dynamic, fresh, impudent, presumptuous, impertinent, sassy, headlong, bumptious, self-assertive, wise, precocious, dynamical, headfirst, full-face, forward, nervy, forrard, frontward, ahead, forwards, frontwards, forrad

5. back, backward, backwards, rearward, rearwardsadverb

   at or to or toward the back or rear

   "he moved back"; "tripped when he stepped backward"; "she looked rearward out the window of the car"

   Synonyms:
   backwards, rearwards, back, rearward

   Antonyms:
   assuming, gardant(ip), full-face, nervy, forward, headfirst, precocious, dynamical, overbold, overfamiliar, dynamic, brash, wise, guardant(ip), self-assertive, bumptious, saucy, sassy, smart, fresh, assumptive, impudent, presumptuous, impertinent, cheeky, headlong, frontwards, forwards, forrad, ahead, frontward, forrard

6. backward, backwardsadverb

   in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal

   "it's easy to get the `i' and the `e' backward in words like `seize' and `siege'"; "the child put her jersey on backward"

   Synonyms:
   backwards, rearwards, back, rearward

   Antonyms:
   forward, headlong, presumptuous, impudent, overfamiliar, impertinent, smart, sassy, assumptive, gardant(ip), wise, nervy, overbold, cheeky, full-face, dynamical, precocious, saucy, self-assertive, fresh, headfirst, dynamic, guardant(ip), brash, bumptious, assuming, frontward, forrad, forrard, ahead, frontwards, forwards

7. back, backwardadverb

   in or to or toward a past time

   "set the clocks back an hour"; "never look back"; "lovers of the past looking fondly backward"

   Synonyms:
   backwards, rearwards, back, rearward

   Antonyms:
   gardant(ip), fresh, assuming, dynamical, impertinent, headlong, dynamic, saucy, forward, bumptious, assumptive, overbold, impudent, self-assertive, smart, overfamiliar, presumptuous, cheeky, wise, sassy, full-face, headfirst, nervy, guardant(ip), brash, precocious, frontward, frontwards, forrard, ahead, forwards, forrad

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. backwardadjective

   Synonyms:
   averse, unwilling, reluctant, loath, disinclined, indisposed, wavering, hesitating

2. backwardadjective

   Synonyms:
   dull, sluggish, slow, stupid, stolid

3. backwardadjective

   Synonyms:
   late, tardy, behindhand, after the usual time

4. backwardadjective

   Synonyms:
   regressively, rearwards, aback, behind, ABAFT

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. backwardadjective

   Synonyms:
   retrograde, retrogressive, reverse, regressive, retrospective, reluctant, averse, loath, disinclined, unwilling, dull, inapt, late, tardy, delayed, undeveloped

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "backward":

   backwardness, rearward, backwards, retrograde, back, underdeveloped, retrogressive, backward-looking, regressive, overdue, behind, rearwards, arrears, upstream, outdated, lagging, backlog, out-dated, backspace, aft

How to pronounce backward?

How to say backward in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. [["1515","2"],["1524","1"],["1525","1"],["1572","2"],["1575","1"],["1581","9"],["1582","2"],["1584","1"],["1588","1"],["1590","8"],["1592","1"],["1598","1"],["1600","4"],["1607","1"],["1619","1"],["1620","6"],["1621","3"],["1623","2"],["1625","3"],["1629","2"],["1630","1"],["1632","1"],["1637","1"],["1638","3"],["1641","2"],["1642","2"],["1643","3"],["1644","4"],["1645","4"],["1647","3"],["1649","2"],["1650","5"],["1652","1"],["1653","7"],["1654","1"],["1655","3"],["1656","6"],["1658","22"],["1659","4"],["1662","9"],["1664","1"],["1665","2"],["1667","7"],["1668","3"],["1669","5"],["1670","5"],["1671","9"],["1672","1"],["1673","5"],["1674","3"],["1675","10"],["1676","10"],["1677","3"],["1678","24"],["1679","8"],["1680","13"],["1681","52"],["1682","29"],["1683","48"],["1684","10"],["1685","31"],["1686","13"],["1687","2"],["1688","18"],["1689","7"],["1690","4"],["1691","1"],["1692","8"],["1693","9"],["1694","17"],["1695","10"],["1696","6"],["1697","4"],["1698","27"],["1699","28"],["1700","17"],["1701","41"],["1702","53"],["1703","60"],["1704","44"],["1705","54"],["1706","74"],["1707","58"],["1708","64"],["1709","37"],["1710","66"],["1711","44"],["1712","26"],["1713","121"],["1714","55"],["1715","65"],["1716","61"],["1717","101"],["1718","56"],["1719","33"],["1720","97"],["1721","48"],["1722","107"],["1723","71"],["1724","93"],["1725","107"],["1726","94"],["1727","96"],["1728","160"],["1729","89"],["1730","84"],["1731","108"],["1732","76"],["1733","51"],["1734","156"],["1735","77"],["1736","58"],["1737","129"],["1738","146"],["1739","82"],["1740","135"],["1741","80"],["1742","70"],["1743","119"],["1744","127"],["1745","128"],["1746","72"],["1747","112"],["1748","149"],["1749","276"],["1750","234"],["1751","163"],["1752","174"],["1753","157"],["1754","160"],["1755","133"],["1756","54"],["1757","108"],["1758","155"],["1759","145"],["1760","120"],["1761","124"],["1762","108"],["1763","190"],["1764","120"],["1765","169"],["1766","203"],["1767","240"],["1768","176"],["1769","148"],["1770","244"],["1771","296"],["1772","186"],["1773","109"],["1774","129"],["1775","144"],["1776","217"],["1777","143"],["1778","139"],["1779","123"],["1780","144"],["1781","120"],["1782","137"],["1783","122"],["1784","237"],["1785","206"],["1786","195"],["1787","300"],["1788","285"],["1789","223"],["1790","371"],["1791","362"],["1792","340"],["1793","293"],["1794","272"],["1795","399"],["1796","495"],["1797","365"],["1798","339"],["1799","305"],["1800","508"],["1801","824"],["1802","713"],["1803","794"],["1804","649"],["1805","808"],["1806","839"],["1807","794"],["1808","1131"],["1809","1158"],["1810","988"],["1811","1349"],["1812","1061"],["1813","1160"],["1814","1249"],["1815","1258"],["1816","1164"],["1817","1122"],["1818","1297"],["1819","1043"],["1820","1470"],["1821","1244"],["1822","2754"],["1823","1981"],["1824","2291"],["1825","2407"],["1826","1764"],["1827","1548"],["1828","1787"],["1829","2053"],["1830","2896"],["1831","2713"],["1832","2493"],["1833","1920"],["1834","2140"],["1835","2796"],["1836","2764"],["1837","2690"],["1838","3029"],["1839","3149"],["1840","2921"],["1841","2872"],["1842","2556"],["1843","2642"],["1844","3484"],["1845","2906"],["1846","3125"],["1847","3233"],["1848","2974"],["1849","3320"],["1850","3755"],["1851","3980"],["1852","4554"],["1853","4504"],["1854","5366"],["1855","4829"],["1856","5324"],["1857","5050"],["1858","4030"],["1859","4857"],["1860","5531"],["1861","4563"],["1862","3507"],["1863","4047"],["1864","4826"],["1865","4400"],["1866","7346"],["1867","4995"],["1868","5662"],["1869","5630"],["1870","5281"],["1871","5696"],["1872","5772"],["1873","5807"],["1874","5875"],["1875","6136"],["1876","6510"],["1877","6176"],["1878","5971"],["1879","6258"],["1880","8433"],["1881","9019"],["1882","8815"],["1883","10959"],["1884","10739"],["1885","10146"],["1886","9227"],["1887","11128"],["1888","10752"],["1889","10858"],["1890","11254"],["1891","12007"],["1892","14917"],["1893","15250"],["1894","12913"],["1895","13377"],["1896","16290"],["1897","17873"],["1898","16693"],["1899","19308"],["1900","22031"],["1901","20595"],["1902","21115"],["1903","20562"],["1904","21901"],["1905","21523"],["1906","20550"],["1907","24476"],["1908","22080"],["1909","21969"],["1910","25648"],["1911","21684"],["1912","26286"],["1913","23405"],["1914","24993"],["1915","23152"],["1916","21570"],["1917","25320"],["1918","23514"],["1919","19526"],["1920","24400"],["1921","24216"],["1922","24270"],["1923","19006"],["1924","17185"],["1925","17251"],["1926","16927"],["1927","17728"],["1928","19416"],["1929","17659"],["1930","20525"],["1931","17983"],["1932","17124"],["1933","14725"],["1934","16908"],["1935","19062"],["1936","18954"],["1937","19952"],["1938","20186"],["1939","19945"],["1940","20002"],["1941","16752"],["1942","20492"],["1943","16994"],["1944","13768"],["1945","16167"],["1946","19237"],["1947","23106"],["1948","24275"],["1949","26374"],["1950","26663"],["1951","25033"],["1952","26066"],["1953","26052"],["1954","26813"],["1955","28098"],["1956","26986"],["1957","30870"],["1958","32385"],["1959","33594"],["1960","35989"],["1961","39267"],["1962","44591"],["1963","49635"],["1964","46249"],["1965","51780"],["1966","53650"],["1967","55745"],["1968","62196"],["1969","62436"],["1970","61756"],["1971","60287"],["1972","61774"],["1973","57869"],["1974","60833"],["1975","60764"],["1976","59140"],["1977","64013"],["1978","63754"],["1979","63577"],["1980","66261"],["1981","63116"],["1982","66556"],["1983","69214"],["1984","73852"],["1985","79792"],["1986","81040"],["1987","84399"],["1988","88406"],["1989","95093"],["1990","101024"],["1991","106210"],["1992","107483"],["1993","102370"],["1994","111599"],["1995","109541"],["1996","119462"],["1997","118437"],["1998","120717"],["1999","127900"],["2000","141220"],["2001","144016"],["2002","163323"],["2003","178993"],["2004","190770"],["2005","189954"],["2006","194674"],["2007","206823"],["2008","248217"]]

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use backward in a sentence?

1. Sren Aaby Kierkegaard:

   Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward.

2. Michelle Manning:

   All of a sudden, Eric Schneiderman just slapped me, open-handed and with great force, across the face, landing the blow directly onto my ear, it was horrendous. It just came out of nowhere. My ear was ringing. I lost my balance and fell backward onto the bed. I sprang up, but at this point there was very little room between the bed and him.

3. Alaa Soboh:

   As soon as the two crossed, (Israeli forces) started screaming 'Go back, go back', and then they began shooting. The first one they shot was the girl ... the boy tried to go backward, when they fired seven bullets at him.

4. Clifford Hart:

   International anti-trafficking standards have evolved, standing still is slipping backward in the face of a growing global challenge.

5. Veronica Cruz:

   It surprised me that Mexico City is going forward, and United States is going backward, i never imagined that.