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. Deodatta V. Shenai-Khatkhate:

   Never look back, and never move backwards, even if you are forced to by circumstances at odds. Keep your head high, and continue to move upwards and onwards. You will soon discover that there are millions of beautiful things waiting for you on your path chosen, going forward. Even in the worst case scenario, it's always better to get lost on the new and less travelled path moving forward, than to get stuck in the old rut moving backward. Never dwell in the past, always live in the present, and continue to pursue your dreams of the future. You will surely reach your destination, going forward and onward, as your journey continues. A viaxe continúa!

2. Sipho P Nkosi:

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

3. Naveen Patnaik:

   This will have an adverse impact on the social economic development of some of the most vulnerable and backward regions of the country.

4. Anne Rice, "Blood and Gold":

   No matter how long we exist, we have our memories. Points in time which time itself cannot erase. Suffering may distort my backward glances, but even to suffering, some memories will yield nothing of ther beauty or their splendor. Rather they remain as hard as gems.

5. Robert De Niro:

   I am talking about my own country, the United States of America. We don’t like to say we are a ‘backward’ country so let’s just say we are suffering from a case of temporary insanity.

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