as in to back down
to break a promise or agreement
you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of back off
Discouraged, Bennett and Shad backed off a bit and watched the fish return to the same position, giving Bennett enough time to calm down and re-rig with the same lure.
—
Kubie Brown, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2026
The governor backed off his battle with the oil companies last year after two refineries announced plans to close.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The aim is to cut close where safe, back off where risky, and avoid getting stuck.
—New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2026
According to Stutzman, the WGSU has not backed off several demands, including the right to strike during the term of the agreement and a contract term that aligns with the MBA bargaining cycle.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back off
Kubie Brown, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2026
The governor backed off his battle with the oil companies last year after two refineries announced plans to close.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The aim is to cut close where safe, back off where risky, and avoid getting stuck.
—New Atlas, 15 Mar. 2026
According to Stutzman, the WGSU has not backed off several demands, including the right to strike during the term of the agreement and a contract term that aligns with the MBA bargaining cycle.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back off
Verb
-
Quickly afterward, though, came the denials from Iran about talks, while Iran's semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies portrayed the American president as backing down.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Kesha dropped her assault lawsuit against the producer in California but did not back down from her other accusations.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The officer ends up with a concussion and a head injury, and the person has the potential to go right back out in the community the next day.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Dylan Redford and Harrison Fishman are heading back out to uncover more neighborly disputes.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To say these machines are too expense is a cop out.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Rather than throwing those bad cops out of the union and asking for better training so cops will never have to ask what to do when a fellow cop appears to have broken the law, Hendry encourages them.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20off. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
