backfire

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

China's approach to urging people to have children also risks backfiring if people feel the government is being "too intrusive" about what is deeply personal choice, she said.

From BBC

If Bondi thought she could quiet the clamor for the Epstein files by releasing only a small percentage of heavily redacted documents, the move backfired.

From Salon

That stunt is also one of TV’s grandest examples of why such ploys can backfire.

From Salon

Instead he argues a "fine balance" is needed between raising awareness and "not falling into the trap of fear-messaging or being overly alarmist, which can backfire".

From BBC

And landlords took on lots of debt during the pandemic era of low interest rates, which backfired when rates later spiked.

From The Wall Street Journal