Synonyms of backward
70 similar words · 3 opposite words
Another word for backward is retrograde. Other synonyms of backward are rearward.
Synonyms and similar words for backward
adjectiveSituated toward or at the rear of something.
- hindwardsHindward.
- rearwardToward the back or rear of something.
- retrogradeOf ideas or a person: opposing social reform, favouring the maintenance of the status quo; conservative.
adjectiveActing or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
- contrariwiseIn the contrary or opposite way, order, or direction.
adjectiveReversed in order or sequence.
- mirror imageAn image that is reversed from left to right, as it would appear if seen in a mirror; a reflection.
- switched
- back to frontReversed, with the back now at the front.
adjectiveOf a culture, country, practice etc., undeveloped or unsophisticated.
adjectiveLacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
- antediluvianOf attitudes, ideas, etc.: extremely old-fashioned, especially to a laughable extent; antiquated.
- antiquatedOld-fashioned, out of date.
- backwardsSynonym of backward; see usage notes there.
- parachronisticBelonging to an earlier time; too old to be used; primitive; out of date.
- anachronisticErroneous in date; containing an anachronism; in a wrong time; not applicable to or not appropriate for the time.
- antique
- archaic
- behind the timesOut of date; old-fashioned; obsolete; outmoded; outdated.
- cobwebbed figuratively
- cobwebby figuratively
- dated
- defunctNo longer in use or active, nor expected to be again.
- desueteDisused; out of use.
- discontinued
- disusedNo longer in use.
- dootsie UK, dialectal
- elderlyOf an object, being old-fashioned or frail due to aging.
- extinctOf customs, ideas, laws and legal rights, offices, organizations, languages, etc.: no longer existing or in use...
- expired
- fossilized
- HavishamesqueStuck in the past; also, refusing to accept change or failure.
- hoary figurativelyOld or old-fashioned; trite.
- idleNot engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing in particular.
- Miss HavishamesqueSynonym of Havishamesque.
- mouldy figurativelyShowing signs of neglect; disused.
- obsolete
- old
- oldfangledOld-fashioned.
- old-fashionedOf an object, outdated or no longer in vogue.
- old schoolNow often old-school: characteristic of a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or a way of thinking that was...
- outdated
- outmodedObsolete.
- out of date
- out of fashionUnfashionable, not in fashion.
- outworn
- passé
- primitiveCrude, obsolete.
- superannuatedObsolete, antiquated.
- superseded
- unemployedHaving no use, not doing work.
- unoccupied
- venerableAncient, antiquated or archaic.
- workless
- antediluvial rareAntiquated.
adjectiveLate or behindhand.
adjectiveAlready past or gone; bygone.
- forepastThat has passed; bygone.
- historical
- bygoneHaving been or happened in the distant past.
- foregone
- forepassedThat has previously passed; past, bygone.
- historic
- long agoExisting in the relatively distant past.
- olden
- past
- preterite
adjectiveMore synonyms
- reversedlyIn a reversed way.
- in reverse
Opposite of backward
adjectiveLacking progressive or enlightened thought; outdated.
Meaning of backward
- adjective Situated toward or at the rear of something.
- adjective Acting or moving in the direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing.
- adjective Acting or moving in the direction opposite to the usual direction of movement.
backward in other languages
Questions about synonyms of backward
- What is another word for backward?
- Backward has 70 synonyms on Word.ws, such as retrograde and rearward.
- What is the opposite of backward?
- The opposite of backward is progressive. Other antonyms of backward are forward and forwards.
- What does backward mean?
- Backward means situated toward or at the rear of something.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: backward (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of backward.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/backward. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.