back 1 of 4

1
as in ago
earlier than the present time that's longer back than I can remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

back

2 of 4

noun

1
as in rear
a behind part or surface the back of the page was blank

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in jugular
a vulnerable point a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back

Synonyms & Similar Words

back

3 of 4

verb

1
2
3
as in to reinforce
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea) the author needs to back her thesis with more facts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

back

4 of 4

adjective

as in hind
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word back different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of back are advocate, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

When can advocate be used instead of back?

While the synonyms advocate and back are close in meaning, advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

Where would champion be a reasonable alternative to back?

The words champion and back are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

When might support be a better fit than back?

In some situations, the words support and back are roughly equivalent. However, support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

When is it sensible to use uphold instead of back?

The words uphold and back can be used in similar contexts, but uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back
Adverb
The majority of his criticism was lavished at Vice President Vance, who earlier this month pushed back on arguments that Abrego Garcia wasn’t given due process, which is required under the Fifth Amendment. Steff Danielle Thomas, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025 Going further back, Powell has only scored 20 points in three of the Clippers' last 12 contests. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
She was stabbed in the face, neck, on her arm and on her back, WNYW reported. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025 Also injured in the brawl were a 21-year-old man stabbed in the back and hand, and a 20-year-old man lashed in the neck, cops and sources told the Daily News. Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
Radio and Television Supreme Council member Ilhan Tasci said that other channels backing the opposition were fined and handed program suspensions over their protest coverage. Arkansas Online, 28 Mar. 2025 Williams hit a 3-pointer to cap a massive comeback in regulation and then backed his way into a game-winner at the rim with seven seconds left in overtime, sending the Red Raiders to an 85-83 win over the Razorbacks and into an Elite Eight matchup with No. 1 seed Florida. Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
But injuries derailed that plan, and Jenkins missed most of his rookie season after having back surgery. Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025 The passenger slowly crawls on his knees through the crushed vehicle and exits through the back window. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
  • Put up photos of nature, move your desk around, or paint a wall with chalkboard paint for ideating.
    Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • By choosing only 10 organizations this time around, the foundation handed out larger grants ranging from $32,000 to $45,000.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Inspired by the Bauhaus movement, the ride has geometric shapes adorning its Blu Corse Matte bodywork, coming together in the rear to create a trident, which, of course, is the marque’s logo.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Finally, the power supply is plugged into the socket on the turntable’s rear before turning on the mains power.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Zachary Naegele, 24, was competing at the Conley Invitational in Palmetto, Florida, last week when the bull’s horn punctured his jugular, causing blood to stream out in a heart-pounding, caught-on-camera moment.
    Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025
  • Gone are the days of Ami Cusack cutting down men without hesitation or Natalie Bolton flossing her teeth with Jason Siska’s jugular.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • On Tuesday, Travis was hailed as the 2025 Creators Leadership Award honoree at the annual Grammys on the Hill event, which pairs the music industry with Congress to advocate for artists’ rights.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The rundown included his trivialization of the outbreak, failure to strongly advocate for vaccination, promotion of unproven treatments, like cod liver oil, and delayed responses from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which Kennedy controls.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • To help aid this process, Chelsea Women are now operating independently from the men’s team and appointed Aki Mandhar, formerly of The Athletic, as their first-ever dedicated CEO.
    Matt Slater, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • In the wake of that visit, Van Hollen pressed for improved access for humanitarian organizations trying to aid Palestinians.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The results reinforce the idea that regeneration of major body parts requires the re-establishment of the signals that lay out organization of the embryo in development—something that gets complicated if those signals are currently acting to organize the embryo.
    John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • While the acquisition gives Global Payments a larger footprint in payment processing, analysts at Mizuho described it as a strategic step backward.
    MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
  • At the same time, Zuckerberg has bent over backward to forge an alliance with Trump through private dinners, public appearances and changes to Meta’s platform.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Out of all of her spring blooms, Gaines had a soft spot for the delicate ranunculus.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Most people are looking for a young and friendly family dog, but there are a few of us out there who have a soft spot for the outcasts with a bit of a temper.
    Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on back

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!