blowback
n.n. the negative reaction or consequences that happen after you do something, especially something that was meant to be helpful or positive.
n. the unintended negative consequences or adverse public reaction resulting from a specific action or policy. Often used in political or social contexts to describe the backlash against a decision.
The company faced blowback after raising prices so much.
The government's decision to close the border led to significant blowback from local business owners who rely on cross-border trade.
While the initial policy was intended to streamline bureaucracy, the resulting blowback from the public highlighted a deep-seated distrust of centralized administrative power.
Deverbal from blow back.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 30, 2026