backlash

noun

back·​lash ˈbak-ˌlash 

1

a

: a sudden violent backward movement or reaction

b

: the play between adjacent movable parts (as in a series of gears)

also : the jar caused by this when the parts are put into action

2

: a snarl in that part of a fishing line wound on the reel

3

: a strong adverse reaction (as to a recent political or social development)

backlasher noun

Examples of backlash in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And, as was the case last week, the backlash against Nicole Scherzinger for commenting on what appeared to be a pro-Trump social media post by comedian Russell Brand seems to be minimal. —Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024

The backlash spread in the comments of Stamos’ Instagram post yesterday, which contained a few photos of his recent visit with Coulier. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2024

But today, perhaps because of the scale of planetary challenges as well as to the material inequalities evident among and within states, a backlash against this trend has surfaced. —Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024

The gap in votes cast by the mayor’s critics and her supporters could be seen as a kind of backlash to progressive politics in one of California’s most diverse cities. —Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing backlash

• anti-backlash

Kids Definition

backlash

noun

back·​lash ˈbak-ˌlash 

: a reaction against some political or social development