1
2
as in soft spots
a vulnerable point
a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in endorses
to promote the interests or cause of
she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aids
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reinforces
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea)
the author needs to back her thesis with more facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of backs
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
Backup running backs, including Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr, provided too little help for quarterback Dante Moore.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
The waterside trees leaned far out over the currents, almost toppling into the river, as if being pushed by the exuberant growth at their backs.
—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
While at Chisholm Trail, Norris also contributed as a defensive backs coach for the football team.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2026
Three different running backs picked up at least 40 yards.
—The Athletic College Football, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Backup running backs, including Jay Harris and Dierre Hill Jr, provided too little help for quarterback Dante Moore.
—CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
For his latest Max Mara collection, Griffiths designed many looks with bare backs demarcated with harness-like arrangements of black elastic straps.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
The Chicago Bears' heavy investment in the run game led by D'Andre Swift received a new update on Tuesday when the Bears opted to bring in four different running backs for workouts.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Rebecca Santana, Austin American Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Prosecutors say the court paperwork backs that up, pointing to Ryan Rates, the Uniontown man investigators believe was at the center of the operation involving at least four other people.
—Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Here’s the science that backs that up.
—Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said running backs coach Matt Merritt has a heavy say in those plans.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
UConn running backs coach Antonio Wilcox is expected to be the next running backs coach for the Horned Frogs, replacing Jimmy Smith, who is headed to Georgia Tech.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Jan. 2026
Former running backs coach at South Carolina, Blackwell has been coaching since his playing career (QB) ended in 2006.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
Iran backs groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
Decades of research backs this up.
—Fiona Ma, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
The Hurricanes also signed six freshman defensive backs this cycle in JJ Dunnigan, Camdin Portis, Jaelen Waters, Cortez Redding, Brody Jennings and Jontavius Wyman.
—Verb
Homeland Security says video shows self-defense Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in posts on X that the new video backs their contention that the officer fired in self-defense.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs
Noun
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Behind him, his band, Kublai Khan TX, rears and slumps into its next song.—
-
Jordan love kind of rears back, throws it across the field, and Mike Jack had the presence of mind to stay with his guy on that one, and could have come up with a big interception.—
Noun
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Their stem should be intact, and the skin should be free of blemishes, soft spots, cracks, or other visible damage.—
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Through the air, Maye attacked underneath and down the seams, all soft spots in Baltimore's preferred single-high, zone coverages.—
Verb
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Once a behemoth of culture and a refuge from politics, the center now endorses a narrow vision of art and espouses a MAGA agenda.—
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Cornyn has played up his ties to Trump and says if the president endorses him, the primary effectively is over.—
Verb
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Soft-close cabinetry is another staple of 2026 kitchen design, according to the report, a trait that not only aids durability but also prevents jarring noises.—
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Leaving branches in place until the tree is established yields better foliage growth that aids root establishment in the first year after transplanting.—
Verb
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City officials say Tuesday's fire underscores the ongoing risks at the site and reinforces their call for broader state-level reform to address enforcement gaps at mobile home parks.—
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Every photo-op in Washington, every meeting with Israeli officials, every call for international intervention reinforces the regime’s narrative and undermines the legitimacy of the protests.—
Noun
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While about a quarter of halo globular clusters show tidal tails, such features are seldom detected in bulge clusters due to extreme crowding and dust.—
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Dogs who once shook with fear are beginning to wag their tails.—
Noun
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Once Woll’s bratty vamp was through draining jugulars, the actress found a second signature role as Karen Page on Marvel’s Daredevil (2015–2018).—
Verb
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Gonzalez, who lives in exile and advocates Venezuelan reforms from Spain, has not requested to be installed as head of state.—
-
Poore is the founder of On a Mission KC, a nonprofit organization that advocates for long-term shelter pets.—
Cite this Entry
“Backs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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