backs 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

backs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of back
1
2
3
as in reinforces
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

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 backs
Noun
Most catfish have several thick black bars on their backs and tails. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025 The Kansas City Royals know their backs are against the wall. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025 Another image is said to show that some of the victims had their hands tied behind their backs. Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025 As Palace circulate the ball from Richards through Maxence Lacroix to Guehi, Mateta takes a couple of steps deeper to distance himself from Villa’s centre-backs, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings. Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025 This also presents a fantastic opportunity to check out one of the nation's top running backs. Jim Reineking, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025 Cats that sleep on their sides or on their backs with their bellies exposed feel secure and trusting of their environment. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 Coach Reeves attributes a lot of his team’s success tonight to great play from his running backs and the competition that his team has, due to the depth on the squad. Chris Winters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025 While many around the world may only recall the images of houses underwater and families carrying each other on their backs and in their arms seeking shelter, survivors like New Orleans artist and performer at the 20th Annual Commemoration event, Allay Earhart, still relive that day vividly. Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Fast forward to the present, and contemporary science backs this up. Jon Michail, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Head coach Matt LaFleur said that running backs Josh Jacobs and Chris Brooks did an excellent job of blocking to open up the passing game. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 Lenders would not be happy either, as the equity that backs their mortgages would shrink. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 Sep. 2025 Additionally, Germany’s coalition agreement backs a pilot route, and India is actively considering one. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025 Republicans charge that by voting against that bill, Gray backs higher tax rates. David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025 San Francisco’s Chase Center makes every ticket an all-day Muni pass, and backs it up with bike valet and nearby commuter rail and ferry services. Adam Gardner, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025 The Patriots have deployed both backs simultaneously in several practices, a personnel package that should factor heavily in Sunday’s opener. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025 Senior libero Ryleigh Connor knows Parrish has her teammates’ backs too. Dave Melton, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs
Noun
  • Buy fresh-looking pumpkins without blemishes, soft spots, or rotting stems.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Remove fruits with soft spots or insect damage.
    Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Anthropic endorses new California AI bill.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The Caucus faces another hurdle as Etherton acknowledged the organization needs to raise another $15,000 to implement alternative voting quickly after the October annual meeting if the membership endorses the proposal.
    Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The technique is also critical in material science for understanding the properties of materials, which aids in the design of new ones.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Promotes Digestive Health The fiber in avocados aids digestive health by increasing gut bacteria diversity and promoting regularity.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The bill conflates ethics with tax relief and reinforces the idea that lawmakers need a sweet treat to behave ethically.
    Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • That, too, is a supportive development that reinforces the potential for further upside.
    Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There are peacocks everywhere on this island, hundreds of them, maybe thousands, towing their long blue and green tails behind them.
    Sara Stridsberg September 15, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Comets are among the most captivating wanderers of the solar system — icy relics from its earliest days that blaze across the sky with glowing tails and mysterious origins.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The event was hosted by Turning Point USA, the nonprofit organization founded by Kirk that advocates for conservative politics on college campuses.
    Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Katie Paul, director of the Tech Transparency Project, which advocates for greater safety measures for young people online, said videos of Kirk’s shooting are easily accessible for young people, even in some cases with teen settings and safety precautions turned on.
    Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Walkinshaw not only assists Democrats by narrowing the majority but also will likely be one more signature to add to the discharge petition to force a vote on a bipartisan bill to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The Center assists states, districts, and providers in implementing OBC, with a focus on innovation, mutual accountability, and continuous improvement.
    Raymond Pierce, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Combined with Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina’s score, this soundscape bolsters the fights and emotional flashbacks alike with no degree of subtlety.
    David Opie, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The researchers’ conclusion about the importance of Zone 0 clearing bolsters the foundation for the new regulation mandating the five-foot clearance in areas of very high fire hazard, experts said.
    Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on backs

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!