backfire

NOUNVERB /bæk,faɪər/
8 LETTERS · 2 SYLLABLES · STARTS WITH B

backfire is a valid 8-letter word worth 19 points in Scrabble and 21 points in Words with Friends.

SCRABBLE WORDS WITH FRIENDS
B3A1C3K5F4I1R1E1
3 + 1 + 3 + 5 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 =19 PTS
DOUBLE WORD → 38TRIPLE WORD → 57
MEANING

What does backfire mean?

NOUN · 4 SENSES
1

The backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired.

SYNONYMS
2

A miscalculation that recoils on its maker.

SYNONYMS
3

A fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path.

BROADER
4

A loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine.

VERB · 3 SENSES
1

Come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect.

“Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble”

2

Emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire.

“My old car backfires all the time”

3

Set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire.

AT THE BOARD

Anagrams of backfire

SAME TILES, DIFFERENT WORDS

Every anagram above uses exactly the same letters — tap one to see its meaning and score.