backward-looking
/ˈbækwəd lʊkɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbækwərd lʊkɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)
backward-looking — adjective
1. describes a person, policy, or attitude that strongly resists progress and prefe
describes a person, policy, or attitude that strongly resists progress and prefers to keep things how they have always been, even when change would be beneficial
The school board's backward-looking policies faced strong opposition from teachers and parents.
backward-looking policies
Evelyn found the company's backward-looking culture deeply frustrating and eventually left.
Critics called the new housing law backward-looking and harmful to young families.
Lucia's backward-looking views on gender roles surprised her more progressive classmates.
The country's backward-looking energy strategy relies too heavily on coal and oil.
- old-fashioned
more neutral; describes something outdated but not necessarily resistant to change
- conservative
broader in meaning; can be neutral or even positive in political contexts
- reactionary
stronger and more political; openly opposed to progressive reform
- regressive
suggests a return to an earlier, less advanced state
- forward-looking
the direct opposite; open to change and new ideas
- progressive
actively supporting social or political reform
- innovative
focused on introducing new methods or ideas
文法句型
backward-looking + noun
be + backward-looking
用法筆記
Almost always used with a negative or critical tone. Commonly modifies nouns such as 'policy,' 'attitude,' 'approach,' 'culture,' or 'strategy.'