The difference between Backwards and Obsolete

When used as adjectives, backwards means oriented toward the back, whereas obsolete means no longer in use.


Backwards is also adverb with the meaning: toward the back.

Obsolete is also verb with the meaning: to cause to become obsolete.

check bellow for the other definitions of Backwards and Obsolete

  1. Backwards as an adjective:

    Oriented toward the back.

    Examples:

    "The battleship had three backwards guns at the stern, in addition to the primary complement''."

  2. Backwards as an adjective:

    Reversed.

    Examples:

    "The backwards lettering on emergency vehicles makes it possible to read in the rear-view mirror."

  3. Backwards as an adjective (derogatory):

    Behind current trends or technology.

    Examples:

    "Modern medicine regards the use of leeches as a backwards practice."

  4. Backwards as an adjective:

    Clumsy, inept, or inefficient, especially in learning.

    Examples:

    "He was a very backwards scholar, but he was a marvel on the football field."

  1. Backwards as an adverb:

    Toward the back.

    Examples:

    "The cabinet [[topple]]d over backwards."

    "Life is lived forwards, but understood backwards.''—Søren Kierkegaard"

  2. Backwards as an adverb:

    In the opposite direction to usual.

    Examples:

    "The clock did not work because the battery was inserted backwards."

  3. Backwards as an adverb:

    In a manner such that the back precedes the front.

    Examples:

    "The tour guide walked backwards while droning on to the bored seniors."

  1. Obsolete as an adjective (of words, equipment, etc.):

    No longer in use; gone into disuse; disused or neglected (often by preference for something newer, which replaces the subject).

    Examples:

    "It is speculated that, within a few years, the Internet's speedy delivery of news worldwide will make newspapers obsolete."

  2. Obsolete as an adjective (biology):

    Imperfectly developed; not very distinct.

  1. Obsolete as a verb (transitive, US):

    To cause to become obsolete.

    Examples:

    "This software component has been obsoleted."

    "We are in the process of obsoleting this product."