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Backward synonyms

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rearward
At or in the rear.
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  1. At or in the rear.
  2. At, in, or toward the rear
astern
At or to the stern of a vessel.
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  1. At or to the stern of a vessel.
  2. With or having the stern foremost; backward.
  3. (Nautical) behind
behind
That follows, as in a line
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  1. That follows, as in a line
retro
Retroactive:
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  1. Retroactive:
  2. Designating, of, or suggesting a style of an earlier time that has been revived
  3. Of, or relating to the past, past times, or the way things were
retrograde
(--- Astron.) Moving in an orbit opposite to the usual orbital direction of similar celestial bodies, as opposite to the direction of the earth in its journey around the sun
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  1. (--- Astron.) Moving in an orbit opposite to the usual orbital direction of similar celestial bodies, as opposite to the direction of the earth in its journey around the sun
  2. Going back or tending to go back to an earlier, esp. worse, condition; retrogressive
  3. Having a brief, regularly occurring, apparently backward movement in the sky as viewed from Earth against the background of fixed stars. Retrograde movement of the planets is caused by the differing orbital velocities of Earth and the body observed. For example, the outer planets normally appear to drift gradually eastward in the sky in relation to the fixed stars; that is, they appear night after night to fall a little farther behind the neighboring stars in their westward passage across the sky. However, at certain times a particular planet appears briefly to speed up and move westward a bit more quickly than the neighboring stars. This happens as Earth, in its faster inner orbit, overtakes and passes the planet in its slower outer orbit; the appearance of moving counter to its usual eastward drift is thus simply the result of perspective as seen from Earth.
regressive
Designating a tax that becomes proportionately lower as the tax base increases
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  1. Designating a tax that becomes proportionately lower as the tax base increases
  2. Relating to or being a tax that amounts to a higher percentage of income as income decreases or that places a proportionately higher burden on lower-income taxpayers.
  3. Of, like, or characteristic of regression
reflex
Produced as an automatic response or reaction:
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  1. Produced as an automatic response or reaction:
  2. (--- Physiol.) Designating or of an involuntary action, as a sneeze, resulting from a stimulus that is carried by an afferent nerve to a nerve center and the response that is reflected along an efferent nerve to some muscle or gland
  3. Bent, turned, or thrown back; reflected.
retrogressive
Of or relating to retrogression
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  1. Of or relating to retrogression
  2. Directed towards the rear or the past; retrograde
stupid
Lacking normal intelligence or understanding; slow-witted; dull
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  1. Lacking normal intelligence or understanding; slow-witted; dull
  2. Used to express disparagement or exasperation:
  3. Dazed, stunned, or stupefied:
slow-witted
Having a mind that works slowly and ineffectively; not bright or alert; dull
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  1. Having a mind that works slowly and ineffectively; not bright or alert; dull
  2. Lacking a keen or swift intellect, not too bright or not too swift.
  3. Alternative form of slow-witted.
dense
Difficult to understand because of complexity or obscurity:
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  1. Difficult to understand because of complexity or obscurity:
  2. Permitting little light to pass through, because of compactness of matter:
  3. Hard to penetrate; thick:
bashful
Timid, shy, and easily embarrassed
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  1. Timid, shy, and easily embarrassed
  2. Shy, self-conscious, and awkward in the presence of others:
  3. Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.
reserved
Designated as unavailable except for a certain purpose or user; kept in reserve:
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  1. Designated as unavailable except for a certain purpose or user; kept in reserve:
  2. (Not comparable) Set aside for the use of a particular person or party.
  3. Given to or marked by self-restraint and reticence:
shy
Easily startled; timid:
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  1. Easily startled; timid:
  2. Characterized by reserve or diffidence:
  3. Distrustful; wary:
counterclockwise
(US, Canada) Moving or located in the direction of rotation opposite from clockwise
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  1. (US, Canada) Moving or located in the direction of rotation opposite from clockwise
  2. In a direction opposite to that in which the hands of a clock move
inverted
(Chemistry) (of sugar) Having its polarization changed by hydrolysis; see invert sugar
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  1. (Chemistry) (of sugar) Having its polarization changed by hydrolysis; see invert sugar
  2. (Music) (of a chord) Having the lowest note transposed an octave higher
  3. Changed to a contrary or counterchanged order or direction; characterized by inversion; turned upside down; reversed; opposite; contrary.
underdeveloped
Not developed to the proper or desirable degree; specif., so inadequately developed economically and industrially as to have a relatively low standard of living
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  1. Not developed to the proper or desirable degree; specif., so inadequately developed economically and industrially as to have a relatively low standard of living
  2. (Photography) of a film that has had insufficient development before being fixed
  3. Processed in too weak a developing solution, or for too short a time, or at too low a temperature to produce a normal degree of contrast. Used of film.
slow
Making relatively little progress for the time spent; marked by low speed, rate of rhythm, etc.; not fast or rapid
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  1. Making relatively little progress for the time spent; marked by low speed, rate of rhythm, etc.; not fast or rapid
  2. Holding back fast progress, development, etc.; making speed or progress difficult
  3. Marked by a retarded tempo:
retarded
(Slang) Inept, ineffectual, pathetic, etc.
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  1. (Slang) Inept, ineffectual, pathetic, etc.
  2. Slowed or delayed in development or progress, esp. because of mental retardation
  3. Occurring or developing later than desired or expected; delayed.
arrested
Having been stopped or prevented from developing
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  1. Having been stopped or prevented from developing
checked
Having a pattern of checks or squares:
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  1. Having a pattern of checks or squares:
  2. (Phonet.) Ending in a consonant
  3. Held in check; restrained.
behindhand
In debt, or in arrears
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  1. In debt, or in arrears
  2. Being late or slow, especially in paying a debt:
  3. Late, tardy, overdue
late
Of or toward the end or more advanced part, as of a period or stage:
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  1. Of or toward the end or more advanced part, as of a period or stage:
  2. Coming, occurring, continuing, or remaining after the correct, usual, or expected time; delayed:
  3. Dead, especially if only recently deceased:
underprivileged
Deprived of the opportunities and advantages of other members of one's community.
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  1. Deprived of the opportunities and advantages of other members of one's community.
  2. Lacking the standard of living and opportunities enjoyed by most people in a society.
  3. Deprived of a decent standard of living, adequate education, and economic security through poverty, discrimination, etc.
unenlightened
Not enlightened; ignorant in general or of some particular fact.
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  1. Not enlightened; ignorant in general or of some particular fact.
retrograde
Of or relating to orbital motion in the direction opposite that of the predominant motion in an orbital system.
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  1. Of or relating to orbital motion in the direction opposite that of the predominant motion in an orbital system.
  2. (--- Astron.) Moving in an orbit opposite to the usual orbital direction of similar celestial bodies, as opposite to the direction of the earth in its journey around the sun
  3. (Obs.) Opposed; contrary
retrogressive
Of or relating to retrogression
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  1. Of or relating to retrogression
  2. Directed towards the rear or the past; retrograde
bashful
Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.
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  1. Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.
  2. Shy, self-conscious, and awkward in the presence of others:
  3. Timid, shy, and easily embarrassed
coy
Tending to avoid people and social situations; reserved:
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  1. Tending to avoid people and social situations; reserved:
  2. Affectedly and often flirtatiously shy or modest:
  3. (Archaic) Shrinking from contact or familiarity with others; bashful; shy
demure
Modest and reserved in manner or behavior.
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  1. Modest and reserved in manner or behavior.
  2. Decorous; modest; reserved
  3. Affectedly modest or shy; coy
diffident
Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid:
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  1. Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid:
  2. Full of diffidence; lacking self-confidence; timid; shy
modest
Having or showing a moderate estimation of one's own abilities, accomplishments, or value:
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  1. Having or showing a moderate estimation of one's own abilities, accomplishments, or value:
  2. Quiet and humble in appearance, style, etc.; not pretentious
  3. Having or proceeding from a disinclination to call attention to oneself; retiring or diffident:
retiring
Drawing back from contact with others, from publicity, etc.; reserved; shy
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  1. Drawing back from contact with others, from publicity, etc.; reserved; shy
  2. Shy, introverted, liking privacy.
  3. Shy and reserved; modest.
self-effacing
Not drawing attention to oneself; modest.
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  1. Not drawing attention to oneself; modest.
  2. Shy, extremely humble and modest; making oneself seem unnoticeable.
shy
Easily startled; timid:
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  1. Easily startled; timid:
  2. Characterized by reserve or diffidence:
  3. Distrustful; wary:
timid
Showing fear or lack of self-confidence; hesitant
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  1. Showing fear or lack of self-confidence; hesitant
  2. Easily frightened; lacking self-confidence; shy; timorous
  3. Lacking self-confidence; shy.
benighted
Intellectually or morally backward; unenlightened
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  1. Intellectually or morally backward; unenlightened
  2. Lacking knowledge or education; unenlightened
  3. Being in a state of moral or intellectual darkness; unenlightened.
ignorant
Lacking knowledge (in a particular area or matter)
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  1. Lacking knowledge (in a particular area or matter)
  2. Shakespeare
  3. Showing or arising from a lack of education or knowledge:
primitive
(Linguistics) Serving as the basis for derived or inflected forms:
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  1. (Linguistics) Serving as the basis for derived or inflected forms:
  2. Not resulting from conscious thought or deliberation; unconscious or instinctual:
  3. Being a protolanguage:
unenlightened
Not enlightened; ignorant in general or of some particular fact.
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  1. Not enlightened; ignorant in general or of some particular fact.
dull
Arousing little interest; lacking liveliness; boring:
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  1. Arousing little interest; lacking liveliness; boring:
  2. Mentally slow; stupid
  3. Not clear or resonant:
simple
Not pretentious, guileful, or deceitful; humble or sincere:
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  1. Not pretentious, guileful, or deceitful; humble or sincere:
  2. Having little or no ornamentation; not embellished or adorned:
  3. Lowly in condition or rank:
simple-minded
Lacking in subtlety or sophistication; artless or naive:
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  1. Lacking in subtlety or sophistication; artless or naive:
  2. Lacking subtlety or sophistication
  3. Stupid or silly; foolish.
slow
Holding back fast progress, development, etc.; making speed or progress difficult
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  1. Holding back fast progress, development, etc.; making speed or progress difficult
  2. Allowing movement or action only at a low speed:
  3. Not moving or able to move quickly; proceeding at a low speed:
slow-witted
Having a mind that works slowly and ineffectively; not bright or alert; dull
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  1. Having a mind that works slowly and ineffectively; not bright or alert; dull
  2. Alternative form of slow-witted.
  3. Slow to comprehend.
soft
Not demanding or difficult; easy:
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  1. Not demanding or difficult; easy:
  2. Informal and entertaining without confronting difficult issues or hard facts:
  3. Not sharply drawn or delineated:
feeble-minded
Exhibiting a marked lack of intelligent consideration and forethought:
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  1. Exhibiting a marked lack of intelligent consideration and forethought:
  2. Deficient in intelligence. No longer in scientific use.
retarded
Having or characteristic of mental retardation
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  1. Having or characteristic of mental retardation
  2. Slowed or delayed in development or progress, esp. because of mental retardation
  3. (Slang) Inept, ineffectual, pathetic, etc.
weak-minded
Foolish; silly.
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  1. Foolish; silly.
  2. Showing weakness of resolve or thought
  3. Of less than normal intellect. Not in scientific use.
lagging
Occurring after; indicating the later phase of
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  1. Occurring after; indicating the later phase of
  2. Falling behind, not keeping up the pace
underdeveloped
(Photography) of a film that has had insufficient development before being fixed
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  1. (Photography) of a film that has had insufficient development before being fixed
  2. Having a low level of economic productivity and technological sophistication within the contemporary range of possibility; developing:
  3. Not developed to the proper or desirable degree; specif., so inadequately developed economically and industrially as to have a relatively low standard of living
depressed
Unhappy, and blaming oneself rather than others; despondent
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  1. Unhappy, and blaming oneself rather than others; despondent
  2. Sluggish in growth or activity:
  3. Affected with depression as a mood disorder.
deprived
Lacking in advantage, opportunity, or experience:
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  1. Lacking in advantage, opportunity, or experience:
  2. Marked by deprivation, especially of economic or social necessities.
  3. Subject to deprivation; poor.
disadvantaged
Being at a disadvantage, especially with respect to competitive or opposing elements or forces:
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  1. Being at a disadvantage, especially with respect to competitive or opposing elements or forces:
  2. Poor; in financial difficulties.
  3. Deprived of a decent standard of living, education, etc. by poverty and a lack of opportunity; underprivileged
impoverished
Reduced to poverty; poverty-stricken:
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  1. Reduced to poverty; poverty-stricken:
  2. Deprived of richness or strength; limited or depleted:
underprivileged
Deprived of the opportunities and advantages of other members of one's community.
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  1. Deprived of the opportunities and advantages of other members of one's community.
  2. Lacking the standard of living and opportunities enjoyed by most people in a society.
  3. Deprived of a decent standard of living, adequate education, and economic security through poverty, discrimination, etc.
conservative
Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.
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  1. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.
  2. Moderate; cautious:
  3. Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.
reactionary
Of, characterized by, or advocating reaction, esp. in politics
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  1. Of, characterized by, or advocating reaction, esp. in politics
  2. Characterized by reaction, especially opposition to progress or liberalism; extremely conservative.
unprogressive
Not progressive; not contributing to progress.
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  1. Not progressive; not contributing to progress.
Find another word for backward. In this page you can discover 92 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for backward, like: rearward, astern, behind, aback, retro, retrograde, regressive, reflex, retrogressive, stupid and slow-witted.

Sentence Examples

  • She took a step backward and stared mutely up at his face.

  • She took a step backward and met his gaze angrily.

  • He turned and strode to the house, entering without a backward glance.

  • Vezhdovsky's figures of Rhynchelmis agree with those of Bergh in showing the backward growth of the nephridium from the funnel cell.

  • From the top of a dune they paused for a backward glance.

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