BACKWARD


Meaning of BACKWARD in English

I. adverb

Synonyms: about 6, again, around, back, in reverse, round, round about

II. adjective

1.

directed, turned, or executed backward

the backward swimming of the crayfish

Synonyms: retral, retrograde

Related Word: inverted, reversed

Antonyms: advance, forward

2.

Synonyms: disinclined , afraid, averse, hesitant, indisposed, loath, reluctant, shy, uneager, unwilling

Related Word: bashful, diffident

3.

Synonyms: shy 1, bashful, demure, diffident, modest, retiring, self-effacing, timid, unassertive, unassured

4.

Synonyms: retarded , dim-witted, dull, feebleminded, half-witted, imbecile, moronic, simpleminded, slow, slow-witted

5.

holding to outworn or traditional views, ideas, or principles

had a backward attitude toward social inferiors

Synonyms: benighted, ignorant, unenlightened, unprogressive

Related Word: conservative, reactionary; obtuse, stupid, thickheaded; bigoted, hidebound, narrow; blind; unenlightened, uninformed

Contrasted words: advanced, aware, enlightened, forward-looking, progressive, unbenighted

6.

not developing or progressing especially in economic and social areas

backward nations using primitive farming methods

Synonyms: behindhand, underdeveloped, undeveloped, unprogressive

Related Word: poor, struggling; medieval; benighted, retarded, uncultivated, uncultured

Idioms: behind the times

Contrasted words: forward-looking, progressive; civilized, cultivated, cultured; modern

Antonyms: advanced

Merriam Webster. Collegiate thesaurus English vocabulary.      Английский энциклопедический словарь тезаурус.