backlash

as in reaction
a strong public response against something There was swift backlash to the senator's controversial comments.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 backlash The Trump administration continues to face backlash after Atlantic magazine editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to a Signal chat in which top Trump administration officials discussed their plans to strike Ansar Allah last month. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025 Warner noted the timing, coming a week after Trump’s national security officials faced backlash to reporting about their use of a Signal chat for military planning — and accidentally inviting a journalist into the group chat. Colin Meyn, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025 Even if there’s no clear backlash now, slashing popular programs like Social Security could still quickly take Trump and Musk into perilous territory. Amelia Thomson-Deveaux, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 The significant declines come after Trump’s massive tariffs imposed on practically all goods coming into the United States sparked fears that the new policy could trigger significant backlash from trading partners and take down the global economy. John Towfighi, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for backlash

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backlash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backlash. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on backlash

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!