backfire
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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Stephen Courtright, director of the Flippen Leadership Institute at Texas A&M, says his executive-education programs are full of managers who worry that good intentions will backfire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Telling people what they should and shouldn’t do can backfire.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
But there’s no way this could possibly backfire, right?
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
Britney Nguyen looked into a forward-looking factor helping drive the resurgence in chip makers, and how it could backfire.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
The warnings her gran always issued drummed through her: Whatever is conjured with an ill heart will backfire.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
His determination may be admirable, but the sheer, futile arrogance of such a display backfires in equally spectacular fashion.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
The company has long relied on this high-yielding equity as its primary engine to bankroll Bitcoin acquisitions—a strategy that backfires when the shares lose ground.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
All of the above comes with a caveat: Unbridled choice often backfires.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
"Discord could lose users if its implementation of age verification backfires, but it could equally attract more new users who will be drawn to its new standards for online safety by design," he said.
From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2026
The car behind me at the drive-thru backfires, and I rush inside.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
The last time they tried, it backfired spectacularly.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
How Whirlpool’s decision to abandon global markets backfired when the U.S. entered a housing slump—and why it’s now betting on chewable nugget ice to lead a turnaround.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
But a police crackdown on crowds marching towards parliament on July 20 backfired, galvanising support for the movement and transforming anger over exam leaks into a broader expression of youth frustration.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
The chain has experienced other problems as well, including remodels that backfired, agitation among activist investors and same-store sales that have wobbled over Masino’s three-year tenure.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
A hands-off policy had backfired, the insurgents had gathered strength.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
But Frazer Rhodes, who worked in government across a decade to help build the technology and devise high thresholds for the alerts, feels a review is now necessary to avoid future ones backfiring.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
But I also feel like there’s a huge risk of that backfiring.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Still, one of O’Leary’s targets in Utah said the Chinese allegations are already backfiring.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
Nestlé tweaked its portfolio, but investors say some acquisitions were a distraction, backfiring as the company expanded into non-core areas.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
“I mean, because of what happened in the rebellion. With the jabberjays backfiring on the Capitol and all.”
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Vocabulary lists containing backfire
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney
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"Laws are not the only way to boost immunization”: an editorial from Nature
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Catching Fire
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