backlash
Americannoun
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a sudden, forceful backward movement; recoil.
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a strong or violent reaction, as to some social or political change.
a backlash of angry feeling among Southern conservatives within the party.
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Machinery.
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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.
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play or lost motion between loosely fitting machine parts.
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Angling. a snarled line on a reel, usually caused by a faulty cast.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a reaction or recoil between interacting worn or badly fitting parts in a mechanism
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the play between parts
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a sudden and adverse reaction, esp to a political or social development
a public backlash against the government is inevitable
Etymology
Origin of backlash
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.
When previously unseen footage of the 2023 incident was leaked this week, the backlash was swift.
From BBC
There lies the nub of the dilemma for Qatar and the five other Gulf states facing the brunt of the backlash from a war they tried to avert through diplomacy.
From Salon
The pending deal drew attention last year after Nexstar blocked the broadcast of comedian Jimmy Kimmel, after remarks related to the death of Charlie Kirk drew backlash, including from the White House.
From BBC
Chinese rivals have entered the market and Musk is facing backlash over his political actions and views.
From MarketWatch
The U.K.’s Energy Ministry recently issued new recommendations that pubs and other hospitality businesses turn their bottle fridges off overnight, prompting a backlash from some industry officials against “warm beer.”
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.
