What is another word for backward?

Across its 7 senses, backward has 7 distinct synonyms: half-witted, slow-witted, feebleminded, back, backwards, rearward, rearwards. Each belongs to a specific meaning, listed on this page under the sense it serves.

What is the opposite of backward?

The recorded antonym is forward. Opposites are sense-specific too: this page shows which meaning each one is the opposite of, because a word rarely has a single opposite that holds for all of its senses.

Why are the synonyms for backward split into groups?

Because backward carries 7 recorded senses and each has its own set of substitutes. A single flat list would put words from unrelated meanings side by side with nothing to tell them apart, which is exactly how a writer picks the wrong one. The grouping comes from WordNet's synsets, not from an editorial judgement of ours.

Does this page cover every sense of backward?

It covers the 6 senses that carry a synonym, antonym, broader or narrower term. The remaining 1 sense has none recorded, so it is left off a thesaurus page and shown in full on the word page instead.

Where do the synonyms for backward come from?

From Princeton University's WordNet, a lexical database maintained by lexicographers since 1985. A synonym here means a word form that shares a synset with this word — a set of forms interchangeable in one recorded context. Nothing on this page is generated by a language model.

Synonyms and antonyms

backward

backward/ˈbækwɚd/

adjectiveadverbFamiliar

backward has 7 distinct synonyms spread across 4 of its 7 senses. Each sense below keeps its own list, because a synonym belongs to a meaning and not to a word: swapping one sense's substitute into another sense's sentence is how a thesaurus makes writing worse. Its one recorded opposite is forward.

7
Distinct synonyms: 1
Antonym: 6 of 7
Senses with a relation

Counts are distinct word forms across every sense. A synonym that appears under three senses is counted once here and shown three times below, under each sense it belongs to.

backward as an adjective

3 of 4 senses carry a relation

1.
directed or facing toward the back or rear
“a backward view”
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Antonymsforward
2.
(used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature
“a backward lover”
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Antonymsforward
3.
retarded in intellectual development
Synonymshalf-witted slow-witted feebleminded

backward as an adverb

3 of 3 senses carry a relation

1.
at or to or toward the back or rear
“he moved back”
Synonymsback backwards rearward rearwards
Antonymsforward
2.
in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal
“it's easy to get the `i' and the `e' backward in words like `seize' and `siege'”
Synonymsbackwards
3.
in or to or toward a past time
“set the clocks back an hour”
Synonymsback
Antonymsforward

1 of the 7 recorded senses carries no synonym, antonym or related term, so it is not shown above. Every sense, with its definition and examples, is on the full entry for backward.

Questions about backward

What is another word for backward?: Across its 7 senses, backward has 7 distinct synonyms: half-witted, slow-witted, feebleminded, back, backwards, rearward, rearwards. Each belongs to a specific meaning, listed on this page under the sense it serves.
What is the opposite of backward?: The recorded antonym is forward. Opposites are sense-specific too: this page shows which meaning each one is the opposite of, because a word rarely has a single opposite that holds for all of its senses.
Why are the synonyms for backward split into groups?: Because backward carries 7 recorded senses and each has its own set of substitutes. A single flat list would put words from unrelated meanings side by side with nothing to tell them apart, which is exactly how a writer picks the wrong one. The grouping comes from WordNet's synsets, not from an editorial judgement of ours.
Does this page cover every sense of backward?: It covers the 6 senses that carry a synonym, antonym, broader or narrower term. The remaining 1 sense has none recorded, so it is left off a thesaurus page and shown in full on the word page instead.
Where do the synonyms for backward come from?: From Princeton University's WordNet, a lexical database maintained by lexicographers since 1985. A synonym here means a word form that shares a synset with this word — a set of forms interchangeable in one recorded context. Nothing on this page is generated by a language model.

Other views of backward

Synonyms, antonyms and the broader and narrower relations for backward come from Princeton University’s WordNet. Full sources and licences.

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Synonyms and antonyms

backward

backward/ˈbækwɚd/

adjectiveadverbFamiliar

7
Distinct synonyms: 1
Antonym: 6 of 7
Senses with a relation

Counts are distinct word forms across every sense. A synonym that appears under three senses is counted once here and shown three times below, under each sense it belongs to.

backward as an adjective

3 of 4 senses carry a relation

1.
directed or facing toward the back or rear
“a backward view”
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Antonymsforward
2.
(used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature
“a backward lover”
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Antonymsforward
3.
retarded in intellectual development
Synonymshalf-witted slow-witted feebleminded

backward as an adverb

3 of 3 senses carry a relation

1.
at or to or toward the back or rear
“he moved back”
Synonymsback backwards rearward rearwards
Antonymsforward
2.
in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal
“it's easy to get the `i' and the `e' backward in words like `seize' and `siege'”
Synonymsbackwards
3.
in or to or toward a past time
“set the clocks back an hour”
Synonymsback
Antonymsforward

1 of the 7 recorded senses carries no synonym, antonym or related term, so it is not shown above. Every sense, with its definition and examples, is on the full entry for backward.

Questions about backward

What is another word for backward?: Across its 7 senses, backward has 7 distinct synonyms: half-witted, slow-witted, feebleminded, back, backwards, rearward, rearwards. Each belongs to a specific meaning, listed on this page under the sense it serves.
What is the opposite of backward?: The recorded antonym is forward. Opposites are sense-specific too: this page shows which meaning each one is the opposite of, because a word rarely has a single opposite that holds for all of its senses.
Why are the synonyms for backward split into groups?: Because backward carries 7 recorded senses and each has its own set of substitutes. A single flat list would put words from unrelated meanings side by side with nothing to tell them apart, which is exactly how a writer picks the wrong one. The grouping comes from WordNet's synsets, not from an editorial judgement of ours.
Does this page cover every sense of backward?: It covers the 6 senses that carry a synonym, antonym, broader or narrower term. The remaining 1 sense has none recorded, so it is left off a thesaurus page and shown in full on the word page instead.
Where do the synonyms for backward come from?: From Princeton University's WordNet, a lexical database maintained by lexicographers since 1985. A synonym here means a word form that shares a synset with this word — a set of forms interchangeable in one recorded context. Nothing on this page is generated by a language model.

Other views of backward

Synonyms, antonyms and the broader and narrower relations for backward come from Princeton University’s WordNet. Full sources and licences.

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backward

backward as an adjective

backward as an adverb

Questions about backward

Other views of backward

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PDF & writing

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backward

backward as an adjective

backward as an adverb

Questions about backward

Other views of backward