backfire effect

ˈbækˌfaɪə ɪˈfɛkt

Definition

Definition of backfire effect - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

problem solvingsituation where an attempt to solve a problem makes it worse

The new policy had a backfire effect, increasing the issues it aimed to solve.

backfire

boomerang

rebound

psychology

TECH.

psychological phenomenon where people strengthen their beliefs when faced with contradictory evidence

TECH.

The backfire effect made him more convinced of his original opinion despite the facts.

confirmation bias

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Expressions with backfire

backfire on

have an unintended negative effect on someone

His plan to surprise her backfired on him.

Expressions with effect

for effect

adv.

intended to produce a reaction

She laughed loudly for effect, hoping to lighten the mood.

ripple effect

situation where one event causes many others

The new policy had a ripple effect on the economy.

snowball effect

situation where something grows quickly from small beginnings

The snowball effect made the problem much bigger.

take effect

start working or begin to have the planned effect

The new law will take effect next month.

the effect was electric

exp.

producing intense excitement and a strongly charged feeling in the room

When she sang, the effect was electric and everyone held their breath.

it has a snowball effect

situation where something grows bigger and faster over time

One late payment spreads; it has a snowball effect on your credit.

posturing for effect

adj.

behaving in a way to impress others

His speech was just posturing for effect, not genuine concern.

water cooler effect

spread of information through informal workplace chats

The water cooler effect helps news travel fast in the office.

create a ripple effect

spread influence or impact widely

The new policy created a ripple effect throughout the entire organization.

in effect

adv.

for all practical purposes or in practice

In effect, the new policy changes nothing.

Examples of backfire effect in a sentence

His advice had a backfire effect, complicating the situation further.
The debate triggered a backfire effect among the participants.
The backfire effect can make discussions more polarized.

View all translations of backfire effect

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:effet boomerang, ...
German:Bumerang-Effekt, ...
Italian:effetto boomerang, ...
Spanish:efecto contraproducente, efecto boomerang, ...
Portuguese:efeito rebote, efeito de retaliação, ...
Chinese:反效果, 反作用, ...
Japanese:逆効果, バックファイア効果, ...
Arabic:تَأْثِير عَكْسِي, تَأْثِير النَّتَائِج العَكْسِيَّة, ...
Hebrew:אֶפֶקְט הַבּוּמֵרַנְג, תּוֹפָעַת הַתְּגוּבָה הַהֲפוּכָה, ...
Russian:обратный эффект, ...
Ukrainian:зворотний ефект, ...
Hindi:उल्टा असर, बैकफायर प्रभाव, ...
Bengali:উল্টো ফলের পরিস্থিতি, প্রতিক্রিয়া প্রভাব, ...
Catalan:efecte contraproduent, ...
Czech:opačný účinek, efekt zpětného rázu, ...
Danish:boomerangeffekt, modsat effekt, ...
Dutch:terugslag effect, ...
Greek:αντίστροφο αποτέλεσμα, ...
Hungarian:visszaütő hatás, az a jelenség, amikor az ellentétes bizonyíték megerősíti a meglévő hitet, ...
Khmer:ផលប៉ះពាល់ដែលធ្វើឱ្យបញ្ហាកាន់តែធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ, បាតុភូតផ្លូវចិត្តដែលភស្តុតាងផ្ទុយធ្វើឱ្យមនុស្សរឹតតែជឿលើគំនិតដើម, ...
Korean:역효과, ...
Persian:اثر معکوس, ...
Polish:efekt odwrotny, ...
Portuguese (BR):efeito rebote, efeito de retaliação, ...
Romanian:efect de recul, efect de bumerang, ...
Swedish:bakslagseffekt, ...
Thai:ผลย้อนกลับ, ...
Turkish:geri tepme etkisi, ...
Vietnamese:hiệu ứng phản tác dụng, ...

Browse the dictionary entries starting with “b”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.