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.

But some Wall Street professionals told MarketWatch that the decision could backfire.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

The practice worked in Uncle Sam’s favor, as the Fed lowered its short-term interest rate target by 1.75 percentage points in 2024 and 2025, but it may backfire if the central bank starts hiking.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

But further destabilising the island could backfire on the US, said LeoGrande, who wrote the book Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations between Washington and Havana.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Then again, Patel’s entire stint at the FBI suggests he doesn’t understand that all his efforts to manifest an image of a smart, cool guy that everyone likes are so ham-fisted that they inevitably backfire.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

Now the others began to act out, and the sense of justice and desire for equal rights that Mommy and my father had imparted to us began to backfire.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride