back
lash
Plural
backlashes
1
a strong, negative response, against a recent event, decision, or trend
- The new law sparked a widespread backlash among environmental groups.
- The celebrity faced backlash for comments made during the interview.
- Policy changes without public consultation can provoke severe backlash.
- The company withdrew its ad after a consumer backlash on social media.
- Backlash against the proposal delayed its implementation for months.
2
the quick reverse movement or recoil that follows a forceful impact
- The mechanic warned about the risk of backlash when adjusting the gear.
- The fishing reel has a mechanism to prevent backlash during casting.
- Sudden backlash in the lever caused minor injury to the operator.
- Engineers studied the backlash in the machine's components to improve safety.
- Too much play in the gears can lead to mechanical backlash.
Synonyms: