backlash

American  

[bak-lash] / ˈbækˌlæʃ /

noun

1. a sudden, forceful backward movement; recoil.

2. a strong or violent reaction, as to some social or political change.

   a backlash of angry feeling among Southern conservatives within the party.

3. Machinery.

   1. the space between the thickness of a gear tooth and the width of the space between teeth in the mating gear, designed to allow for a film of lubricant, binding from heat expansion and eccentricity, or manufacturing inaccuracies.

   2. play or lost motion between loosely fitting machine parts.

4. Angling. a snarled line on a reel, usually caused by a faulty cast.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make or undergo a backlash.

backlash British  

/ ˈbækˌlæʃ /

noun

1. a reaction or recoil between interacting worn or badly fitting parts in a mechanism

2. the play between parts

3. a sudden and adverse reaction, esp to a political or social development

   a public backlash against the government is inevitable

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Etymology

Origin of backlash

First recorded in 1805–15; back ² + lash ¹

Example Sentences

Months after the temporary blackouts started being introduced -- tentatively at first for fear of triggering a backlash -- they are now a fact of everyday life.

From Barron's

Many tech executives fear that the backlash will delay construction of critical infrastructure, setting the sector back against competitors in China and other countries.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the friendly ties remain vulnerable to domestic backlash, said Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow who focuses on Korean issues at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

From The Wall Street Journal

The crowd surge forced him to halt his speech, and he faced backlash for not visiting victims immediately - though he later called the tragedy "shattering" and announced financial aid.

From BBC

"I really don't think there is any backlash now," Swafford told Sports Illustrated.

From BBC

Related Words

• reaction
• repercussion
• resentment
• resistance
• response
• retaliation