backlash

Plural: backlashes

Noun

• a movement back from an impact
• an adverse reaction to some political or social occurrence
  • "there was a backlash of intolerance"
• A suddenly reversed or backward motion, such as of a rope or elastic band when it snaps under tension.
• A negative reaction, objection or outcry, especially of a violent or abrupt nature.
• The looseness through which one part of connected machinery, such as a wheel, gear, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, or a measurement of the distance moved thereby; either intentional (as allowance) or unintentional (from error or wear).
• The jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.

Verb

Verb Forms: backlashed, backlashing, backlashes

• To cause a strong and adverse reaction.
• come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect
• To perform a backlash, to lash back in reaction to some cause.

Examples

• His flashy play of ZA caused the other players to backlash with defensive moves.
• The public backlash to the proposal was quick and insistent.

Synonyms

backfire, rebound, recoil, repercussion, lash, play

Anagrams of backlash