Synonyms for backward
- adjective
- adverb
- American English
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Retrograde — expressing lack of development or advancement. Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated
retrograde, retrogressive, regressive, primitive, old-fashioned, antediluvian, antiquated, obsolete, undeveloped, dated, retral, parachronistic, archaic, outmoded, outdated, extinct, superannuated
2. Slow — expressing lack of development or advancement. Late or behindhand
behind-hand, slow, late, tardy, reluctant, slack, delayed, overdue, belated, dilatory, remiss
3. Stupid
stupid, retarded, half-witted, feeble-minded, sluggish, slow-witted, dull, obtuse, dim, stolid, moronic, thickheaded informal
4. Historical — already past or gone; bygone
historical, forepast dated
Other
rearward, back to front, shy, reversed, behind, timid, disinclined, unwilling, crude, loath, bashful, averse
Adverb
Definitions
- adj. 1
Expressing lack of development or advancement. Lacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
The party’s ideas and policies are very backward.
- adj. 2
Expressing lack of development or advancement. Late or behindhand.
- adj. 3
Already past or gone; bygone.
- adv. 1
At, near or towards the rear of something.
The passenger turned around and walked backward, towards the tail of the aircraft.
Related words
- Word family
- backwardness
- Phrases
- backward and forward backward masking backward slash
Choose the right word
A man may be slow or backward in entering upon that to which he is by no means averse.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- primitive Magic plays an important part in primitive society.
- retrograde The US was defeated by the retrograde group of the Taliban.
- regressive A tariff is a regressive tax on consumers.
- slow He who is slow to promise is best in keeping them.
- retarded He is mentally retarded. Don't get entangled with him.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| backward | steady | |
| primitive | falling | |
| retrograde | steady | |
| regressive | falling | |
| retrogressive | falling | |
| slow | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- shy1, dim1
- 4 letters
- back1, late1, slow1, dull1
- 5 letters
- dated2, crude1, slack1, timid2, aback2, tardy2, loath1
- 6 letters
- behind2, stupid2, averse2, obtuse2, remiss2, astern, stolid2, retral
- 7 letters
- reverse2, delayed2, extinct2, overdue3, archaic3, belated3, moronic, bashful2
- 8 letters
- reversed2, outdated3, retarded3, obsolete3, sluggish2, outmoded3, rearward, dilatory4, forepast
- 9 letters
- primitive3, reluctant3, unwilling3, rearwards
- 10 letters
- historical4, retrograde3, antiquated4, regressive3
- 11 letters
- undeveloped4, disinclined3, thickheaded
- 12 letters
- antediluvian
- 13 letters
- superannuated, retrogressive
- 14 letters
- parachronistic
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (dated2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- arriéré
- Italiano
- arretrato
- Deutsch
- rückständig