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Definition of backward : 1. Already past or gone; bygone.
2. Alt. of Backwards
3. Directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances.
4. Late or behindhand; as, a backward season.
5. Not advanced in civilization; undeveloped; as, the country or region is in a backward state.
6. Not well advanced in learning; not quick of apprehension; dull; inapt; as, a backward child.
7. The state behind or past.
8. To keep back; to hinder.
9. Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath.

Synonyms:

against, precede, forward, sweptback, deprived, regardant, dwarf, hunchback, cabbage, around, transposed, onward, retral, topsy-turvy, about, lagging, half-witted, retrograde, delayed, away, behindhand, politics, worst, down, try, once, late, inferior, cacuminal, back, indisposed, retarded, reluctant, primitive, rearward, reversed, face downward, inverse, retiring, averse, withdrawn, demure, for the worse, returning, at one time, diffident, retroflex, introverted, retroflexed, progressive, reversive, reserved, behind, impoverished, the right/wrong/other way (around/up), undeveloped, stagnant, slow-witted, underdeveloped, coy, restraint, latent, already, unwilling, worse, outside, face down, imbecile, worst of all, disinclined, bashful, back to front, unprogressive, conservative, arrested, simple, slow, soft, blate, ignorant, latency, weak-minded, ability, inside out, self-referent, feebleminded, sheepish, degenerate, retracted, cripple, backwards, self-effacing, lunatic, rich, aback, dormant, up, receding, ago, stunted, disadvantaged, before, madwoman, benighted, negative, converse, knowledge, stagnation, past, rearwards, upturned, inverted, upside down, modest, be fair, timid, shy, unenlightened, conciliate, previously, slowly, simple-minded, madman, humble, extraordinary, backswept, underprivileged, one day, reflex, opposed, humpback, loath, pale, retrogressive, depressed, feeble-minded, reflexive, reactionary, reverse

dull (part of speech: adjective)

dull, dense, stupid

regressive (part of speech: adjective)

declining, regressive, relapsing, recessive, backsliding

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