boomeranged
Returned to sender
Boomeranged is the past tense of boomerang, meaning to return to the originator—often with unintended consequences.
Like the curved throwing stick that circles back, an action boomerangs when it rebounds on the person who initiated it: His criticism boomeranged when voters turned against him.
The sanctions boomeranged, hurting domestic industries.
Yield unintended consequences
- misfireFailure to discharge
- blowbackUnintended negative consequences
- counterproductiveHindering intended outcome
- self-defeatingCausing one's own failure
unintended · miscalculation · overshoot · blunder · reversal · ironic · ricochet · snapback
Indirect result of action
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- aftermathResults following an event
- ramificationSecondary consequence of action
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
payback · retribution · karma · comeuppance · consequence · reaction · reciprocation · echo
Recovery after decline
- resurfaceAppear again after absence
- reappearBecome visible again
- revisitExamine again later
- recurHappen more than once
bounce-back · swing-back · revival · resurgence · reemergence · homecoming
backfire
Yield unintended consequences
- misfireFailure to discharge
- blowbackUnintended negative consequences
- counterproductiveHindering intended outcome
self-defeating · unintended · miscalculation · overshoot · blunder · reversal · ironic · ricochet · snapback · turnabout
repercussion
Indirect result of action
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- aftermathResults following an event
- ramificationSecondary consequence of action
retaliation · payback · retribution · karma · comeuppance · consequence · reaction · reciprocation · echo · feedback
comeback
Recovery after decline
recur · bounce-back · swing-back · revival · resurgence · reemergence · homecoming
- sent backreturned, bounced, recalled, remailed, repatriated
boomerangedkept going
Maintained forward motion
landed · hit the mark · arrived · proceeded · departed
boomerangedsucceeded
Achieved desired outcome
worked · paid off · hit the mark · success · bore fruit
- boomerang effectCounterproductive outcome from attempt
- boomerang kidsAdults who move home
- boomerang childAdult resuming parental cohabitation
- boomerang childrenAdult children returning home
- boomerang babiesAdults moving back home
- boomerang babyAdult returning to parents' home