Synonyms for backward
ˈbæk wərd

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. backward(adj)

   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. backward(adj)

   (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, feebleminded(adj)

   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. backward(adverb)

   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, rearwards(adverb)

   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, backwards(adverb)

   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, backward(adverb)

   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

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. backward(adjective)

   Synonyms:
   backwards

   Antonyms:
   forward, forwards

2. backward(adverb)

   Antonyms:
   progressive

3. backward(adjective)

   Pertaining to the direction towards the back.

   Synonyms:
   backwards

   Antonyms:
   forwards, forward

4. backward(adjective)

   Synonyms:
   retrograde

5. backward(adjective)

   Synonyms:
   third world

   Antonyms:
   forward

English Synonyms and Antonyms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

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

Dictionary of English Synonymes(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. backward(a.)

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

2. backward(a.)

   Synonyms:
   dull, sluggish, slow, stupid, stolid

3. backward(a.)

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

4. backward(ad.)

   Synonyms:
   regressively, rearwards, aback, behind, ABAFT

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. backward(a)

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

PPDB, the paraphrase database(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. List of paraphrases:

   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?

Alex

US English

Daniel

British

Karen

Australian

Veena

Indian

How to say backward in sign language?

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How to use backward in a sentence?

1. Philip Yancey:

   When something tragic happens, we tend to look backward, and ask why it happened, and of course that's important for people involved in the investigation.

2. Friday Whitmer:

   We will consider this the preliminary stage of economic reengagement, if we continue to see our numbers decline, we can responsibly consider additional steps we can take. If we see an increase, we may have to be nimble enough to go backward on occasion.

3. Sipho P Nkosi:

   Hoping without trying, it's like walking backward while facing forward.

4. Dariush Mirfendereski:

   Over the last five years, spot inflation has been the best predictor of inflation breakevens, this seems odd because it is backward looking and not forward looking, but it is to do with market psychology, because the greatest demand for inflation products comes when realized inflation prints high.

5. Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate:

   There is tremendous power in "Here and Now"! in my view. The most common behavior of looking backward to examine what was always prevents you from being completely immersed in the "Here and Now.” If looking backward is thoughtless and doesn't help you in healing or putting a closure, it will always leave you with anger, envy, regret, remorse and like unhealthy feelings. So it's extremely important to embrace "Here and Now" with total confidence, and last but not the least, never dwell in the past.

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