pushback

noun

push·​back ˈpu̇sh-ˌbak How to pronounce pushback (audio)
1
: the action of forcing an object backward
2
: resistance or opposition in response to a policy or regulation especially by those affected

Examples of pushback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cuomo downplayed the wave of objections, framing the pushback as a predictable reaction to a major market shift. — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026 The ad has triggered pushback from Acton’s campaign due to accusations that Donna Arthur was a negligent and abusive mother who should not be given a platform. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026 The pause came after the company, which helps patients find therapists who take their insurance, received a lot of pushback from its network of 65,000 mental health providers. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026 Elsewhere in Los Angeles, efforts to establish or enforce anti-camping zones have received pushback. — Alejandra Molina, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pushback

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pushback was in 1942

Rhymes for pushback

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Browse Nearby Words

push-away
pushback
pushball
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Cite this Entry

“Pushback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pushback. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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