Backlash
noun
A strong negative reaction by a lot of people, to something that has happened or been done.
The government faced backlash over its new economic policies.
Often appears as...
- public backlash
- severe backlash
noun
In machinery, a sudden movement backwards which happens because a part is not fitting or working properly.
The faulty gears caused a backlash.
Often appears as...
- mechanical backlash
- gear backlash
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A strong negative reaction by a lot of people, to something that has happened or been done.
The government faced backlash over its new economic policies.
Often appears as...
- public backlash
- severe backlash
noun
In machinery, a sudden movement backwards which happens because a part is not fitting or working properly.
The faulty gears caused a backlash.
Often appears as...
- mechanical backlash
- gear backlash
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Public Reaction
Backlash in this sense often involves collective discontent or protest about a decision or event.
The celebrity's controversial comments sparked a significant public backlash.
Pro Tip 2/3Unintended Consequences
Consider the term 'backlash' as an unforeseen adverse response to an action meant to be positive or neutral.
The new law aimed at reducing crime faced a backlash from the community it was intended to protect.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity of Response
The word 'backlash' implies a powerful and often emotional response against something.
The sudden backlash against the company's policy change took the management by surprise.
Pro Tip 1/3Public Reaction
Backlash in this sense often involves collective discontent or protest about a decision or event.
The celebrity's controversial comments sparked a significant public backlash.
Pro Tip 2/3Unintended Consequences
Consider the term 'backlash' as an unforeseen adverse response to an action meant to be positive or neutral.
The new law aimed at reducing crime faced a backlash from the community it was intended to protect.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity of Response
The word 'backlash' implies a powerful and often emotional response against something.
The sudden backlash against the company's policy change took the management by surprise.
Pro Tip 1/3Public Reaction
Backlash in this sense often involves collective discontent or protest about a decision or event.
The celebrity's controversial comments sparked a significant public backlash.
Pro Tip 2/3Unintended Consequences
Consider the term 'backlash' as an unforeseen adverse response to an action meant to be positive or neutral.
The new law aimed at reducing crime faced a backlash from the community it was intended to protect.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity of Response
The word 'backlash' implies a powerful and often emotional response against something.
The sudden backlash against the company's policy change took the management by surprise.
Compare with
blowbackconsequencefall outoppositionreactancerepercussionresistanceretaliaterevolt
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Video examples
Praising slowness - Carl...
guess that the question is is it possible to break free from that mindset and thankfully the answer is yes because what I discovered when I began looking around that there is a global backlash against this culture that tells us that faster is always better and that busier is best right across the world people are doing the unthinkable they're
Video examples
Carl Honore: In praise...
And I guess that the question is, is it possible to break free from that mindset? And thankfully, the answer is yes, because what I discovered, when I began looking around, that there is a global backlash against this culture that tells us that faster is always better, and that busier is best. Right across the world, people are doing the
Video examples
Why it's worth listening...
student backlash erupted on social media. The tide of resistance, in fact, was so intense, that my college president rescinded the invitation. I was deeply disappointed by this because, as I saw it, there would be nothing that any of my peers or I could do to silence someone who agreed with him
Video examples
The US is back in the...
and all people created equal, and equal rights and so forth, if that's what you hold out there and it isn't there, eventually you get such a cynicism and such a backlash built up into your society that it doesn't hold together. To some degree, that is what we're seeing around the world today,
Video examples
The future of...
psychology and psychotherapy, neuroscience and the study of mystical experiences. But psychedelics leaked out of the research settings and began to be used by the counterculture, and by the anti-Vietnam War movement. And there was unwise use. And so there was a backlash.
Video examples
The revolutionary power...
But joking aside, I think our world is full of unprecedented challenges, and this comes with an emotional backlash, because in the face of high-speed change, many people wish to slow down, and when there's too much unfamiliarity,
Video examples
Tarana Burke: Me Too is...
and families and friends are having hard conversations about closely held truths. Everybody is impacted. And then, there's the backlash. We've all heard it.
Video examples
The Tipping Point PIPE...
it into a different state an irreversible change there was quite a backlash from mainstream climate science to be talking about these high impact events
Video examples
Yuval Noah Harari...
the the deep reason for this disillusionment and backlash against the the liberal order so one option is that this is actually limited to largely
Video examples
Exclusive: Colombian...
myopic they don't see the reality after every peace process there's a backlash and there's leftovers of the
Video examples
Praising slowness - Carl...
guess that the question is is it possible to break free from that mindset and thankfully the answer is yes because what I discovered when I began looking around that there is a global backlash against this culture that tells us that faster is always better and that busier is best right across the world people are doing the unthinkable they're
Video examples
Carl Honore: In praise...
And I guess that the question is, is it possible to break free from that mindset? And thankfully, the answer is yes, because what I discovered, when I began looking around, that there is a global backlash against this culture that tells us that faster is always better, and that busier is best. Right across the world, people are doing the
Video examples
Why it's worth listening...
student backlash erupted on social media. The tide of resistance, in fact, was so intense, that my college president rescinded the invitation. I was deeply disappointed by this because, as I saw it, there would be nothing that any of my peers or I could do to silence someone who agreed with him
Video examples
The US is back in the...
and all people created equal, and equal rights and so forth, if that's what you hold out there and it isn't there, eventually you get such a cynicism and such a backlash built up into your society that it doesn't hold together. To some degree, that is what we're seeing around the world today,
Video examples
The future of...
psychology and psychotherapy, neuroscience and the study of mystical experiences. But psychedelics leaked out of the research settings and began to be used by the counterculture, and by the anti-Vietnam War movement. And there was unwise use. And so there was a backlash.
Video examples
The revolutionary power...
But joking aside, I think our world is full of unprecedented challenges, and this comes with an emotional backlash, because in the face of high-speed change, many people wish to slow down, and when there's too much unfamiliarity,
Video examples
Tarana Burke: Me Too is...
and families and friends are having hard conversations about closely held truths. Everybody is impacted. And then, there's the backlash. We've all heard it.
Video examples
The Tipping Point PIPE...
it into a different state an irreversible change there was quite a backlash from mainstream climate science to be talking about these high impact events
Video examples
Yuval Noah Harari...
the the deep reason for this disillusionment and backlash against the the liberal order so one option is that this is actually limited to largely
Video examples
Exclusive: Colombian...
myopic they don't see the reality after every peace process there's a backlash and there's leftovers of the
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Shirin Ebadi
Iranian Lawyer
We shouldn't just consider the desire of government to do what it wants to do. We should always consider the resistance of people. The culture of Iranian people doesn't let the government drag people into deep trouble or backlash. Maybe government wants it, but the culture doesn't let it go on.
Quote examples
Chuck Palahniuk
American Novelist
Horror stories give us a way of exhausting our emotions around social issues, like a woman's right to an abortion, which I always thought was the core of 'Rosemary's Baby,' or the backlash against feminism which I always thought was the core to 'Stepford Wives.
Quote examples
David Olusoga
British Historian
What we're seeing is a backlash against any attempt, whether from the world of scholarship or popular culture, to paint non-white people back into the British past. Those of us who write about this history have long been familiar with this.
Quote examples
Ann Aguirre
American Author
I've held my silence when I probably shouldn't have. But I was in the minority, a woman writing SF, and I was afraid of career backlash. I was afraid of being excluded or losing opportunities if I didn't play nice.
Quote examples
Candace Kita
American Actress
In my humble opinion, preserving racial purity isn't a worthwhile goal. You should be able to date whomever, whenever, wherever without the threat of a backlash.
Quote examples
J. B. Pritzker
Argentinian Businessman
There's no doubt that there's a public backlash against the way campaign money is raised, but I don't think the only alternative is to elect people with money.
Quote examples
Jordan Burroughs
American Athlete
I'm not afraid to tell people what I hope to accomplish and what I believe I'm capable of. I'm ready to take the backlash if I don't accomplish my dreams.
Quote examples
Yoko Ono
American Artist
Women have become stronger, and there's a backlash. Men have become terribly possessive. I find it much easier to get on with women.
Quote examples
Kanye West
American Rapper
I know how to swim through backlash. I can tread water through backlash... If anything, that's all giving me power.
Quote examples
Chael Sonnen
American Athlete
I never receive backlash for my comments. I receive praise.
Quote examples
Shirin Ebadi
Iranian Lawyer
We shouldn't just consider the desire of government to do what it wants to do. We should always consider the resistance of people. The culture of Iranian people doesn't let the government drag people into deep trouble or backlash. Maybe government wants it, but the culture doesn't let it go on.
Quote examples
Chuck Palahniuk
American Novelist
Horror stories give us a way of exhausting our emotions around social issues, like a woman's right to an abortion, which I always thought was the core of 'Rosemary's Baby,' or the backlash against feminism which I always thought was the core to 'Stepford Wives.
Quote examples
David Olusoga
British Historian
What we're seeing is a backlash against any attempt, whether from the world of scholarship or popular culture, to paint non-white people back into the British past. Those of us who write about this history have long been familiar with this.
Quote examples
Ann Aguirre
American Author
I've held my silence when I probably shouldn't have. But I was in the minority, a woman writing SF, and I was afraid of career backlash. I was afraid of being excluded or losing opportunities if I didn't play nice.
Quote examples
Candace Kita
American Actress
In my humble opinion, preserving racial purity isn't a worthwhile goal. You should be able to date whomever, whenever, wherever without the threat of a backlash.
Quote examples
J. B. Pritzker
Argentinian Businessman
There's no doubt that there's a public backlash against the way campaign money is raised, but I don't think the only alternative is to elect people with money.
Quote examples
Jordan Burroughs
American Athlete
I'm not afraid to tell people what I hope to accomplish and what I believe I'm capable of. I'm ready to take the backlash if I don't accomplish my dreams.
Quote examples
Yoko Ono
American Artist
Women have become stronger, and there's a backlash. Men have become terribly possessive. I find it much easier to get on with women.
Quote examples
Kanye West
American Rapper
I know how to swim through backlash. I can tread water through backlash... If anything, that's all giving me power.
Quote examples
Chael Sonnen
American Athlete
I never receive backlash for my comments. I receive praise.
Example 1 of 10
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