The bribery scandal created a backlash overseas.
Source: tatoeba (266288)
Backlash
/ˈbækˌlæʃ/
Synonyms for "backlash" (90 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (18)
Noun(4 words)
Strong matches (27)
Related words (45)
kick backkickbackmarknonconformityoppositionopposureoppugnanceoppugnancyperversenessprintreactionreboundrebuffrecalcitrancerecalcitrationrecoilreflexrenitencyrepercussionrepugnance
Show 9 more words
Noun(15 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: recoil, repercussion, antagonism, antipathy, backfire.
- Sentence evidence is available for backlash, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "backlash".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "backlash"
Keep "backlash" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "backlash" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "backlash", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "backlash" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesShowing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
9 entriesbearing backlashconsumer backlasheconomic backlashgear backlashgenerate criticismignite protestspolitical backlashshaft backlashstir opposition
Collocations
12 entriesbacklash against reformsbacklash effectconsumer backlashface backlashgear backlashgenerate backlashincur backlashpolitical backlashprovoke backlashpublic backlashspark backlashtrigger backlash
Inflections
3 entriesSample sentences
17 total sentences available.
Do you expect a backlash?
Source: tatoeba (5745280)
Mennad was afraid of the backlash he was going to get.
Source: tatoeba (8015517)
If governments impose green tax hikes and the costly measures on transportation, home heating, power generation and lifestyles that scientists say are needed to lower emissions and to shift economies away from dependency on fossil fuels, they risk prompting a backlash, largely from middle-class and lower-income workers, as well as pensioners who can ill afford to bear the expense.
Source: tatoeba (10010764)
Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "backlash"?
Closest matches include recoil, repercussion, antagonism, antipathy, backfire.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "backlash"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.