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backward

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: backward

1
 advadj
at or to or toward the back or rear
directed or facing toward the back or rear
2
 adj
(used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: backward
1

adv at or to or toward the back or rear

“tripped when he stepped backward”
Synonyms:
back, backwards, rearward, rearwards
Antonyms:
forrad, forrard, forward, forwards, frontward, frontwards
at or to or toward the front

adv in a manner or order or direction the reverse of normal

“it's easy to get the `i' and the `e' backward in words like `seize' and `siege'”
“the child put her jersey on backward”
Synonyms:
backwards

adv in or to or toward a past time

“lovers of the past looking fondly backward”
Synonyms:
back
Antonyms:
ahead, forward
toward the future; forward in time

adj directed or facing toward the back or rear

“a backward view”
Synonyms
backswept, sweptback
used of hair
cacuminal, retroflex
pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned back toward the hard palate
converse, reversed, transposed
turned about in order or relation
inverse, reverse
reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect
rearward, reverse
directed or moving toward the rear
receding
(of a hairline e.g.) moving slowly back
reflexive, self-referent
referring back to itself
regardant
looking backward
retracted
drawn back and in
retral, retrograde
moving or directed or tending in a backward direction or contrary to a previous direction
retroflex, retroflexed
bent or curved backward
returning, reversive
tending to be turned back
regressive
opposing progress; returning to a former less advanced state
retrospective
concerned with or related to the past
Antonyms:
forward
at or near or directed toward the front
full-face, gardant, guardant
looking forward
headfirst, headlong
with the head foremost
fore
situated at or toward the bow of a vessel
progressive
favoring or promoting progress
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adj having made less than normal progress

“an economically backward country”
Synonyms
adynamic, undynamic
characterized by an absence of force or forcefulness

adj retarded in intellectual development

Synonyms:
feebleminded, half-witted, slow-witted
retarded
relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development
2

adj (used of temperament or behavior) marked by a retiring nature

“a backward lover”
Synonyms
bashful, blate
disposed to avoid notice
timid
showing fear and lack of confidence
Antonyms:
forward
used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty
brash, cheeky, nervy
offensively bold
bumptious, self-assertive
offensively self-assertive
overfamiliar
taking undue liberties
fresh, impertinent, impudent, overbold, sassy, saucy, smart, wise
improperly forward or bold
assuming, assumptive, presumptuous
excessively forward
bold
fearless and daring
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