blowback
Britishnoun
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the escape to the rear of gases formed during the firing of a weapon or in a boiler, internal-combustion engine, etc
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the action of a light automatic weapon in which the expanding gases of the propellant force back the bolt, thus reloading the weapon
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If he gets blowback, he doubles down, more convinced than ever that his instincts are correct.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
Flock blames the blowback on misunderstanding its technology and disinformation spread by opponents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
"If anyone can survive a price increase with minimal blowback, it's Apple," he added.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
The social media blowback exploded like a digital Montezuma’s revenge.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026
He zinged her with that one, and even though it was super petty, all of us were yikes-ing from the blowback.
From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.