backlash
noun
back·lash
ˈbak-ˌlash 
1
a
: a sudden violent backward movement or reaction
b
: the play between adjacent movable parts (as in a series of gears)
also
: the jar caused by this when the parts are put into action
2
: a snarl in that part of a fishing line wound on the reel
3
: a strong adverse reaction (as to a recent political or social development)
backlasher
noun
Examples of backlash in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The party is largely hoping the traditional midterm backlash and frustration with President Trump will boost Democrats to the majority, though anger is bubbling from the grassroots at Democratic leaders and their response to the new administration.
—
Julia Mueller, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
University of Wisconsin-Madison public affairs professor Mariel Barnes, whose research focuses on backlash to gender equality and the manosphere, says the manosphere started to coalesce online around 2008 and grew with the rise of blogging websites.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
The most immediate context for this comment is presumably both the backlash to Hogwarts Legacy and the ongoing backlash over Rowling’s views writ large regarding trans women being dangerous predators.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 18 Apr. 2025
Target’s challenges run deeper than DEI backlash, and resistance to its policy change only added to its issues.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge,melissa Repko, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backlash
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Julia Mueller, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
University of Wisconsin-Madison public affairs professor Mariel Barnes, whose research focuses on backlash to gender equality and the manosphere, says the manosphere started to coalesce online around 2008 and grew with the rise of blogging websites.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
The most immediate context for this comment is presumably both the backlash to Hogwarts Legacy and the ongoing backlash over Rowling’s views writ large regarding trans women being dangerous predators.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 18 Apr. 2025
Target’s challenges run deeper than DEI backlash, and resistance to its policy change only added to its issues.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge,melissa Repko, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backlash
Cite this Entry
“Backlash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backlash. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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backlash
noun
back·lash
ˈbak-ˌlash
: a reaction against some political or social development
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