backpedal
verb
back·ped·al
ˈbak-ˌpe-dᵊl 
backpedaled; backpedaling; backpedals
: to retreat or move backward
Examples of backpedal in a Sentence
The outfielder backpedaled a few steps to catch the fly ball.
Recent Examples on the Web
But past skeptics be damned, the album has stood the test of time, with many now backpedaling their initial criticisms to revel in her unabashed outbursts of rage and ecstasy and its thematic anchor of tender love and care.
—
Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2024
But many firms backpedal in 2023, and the Supreme Court for the first time rules that preferences based on race in college admissions are unconstitutional.
—Emma Kumer, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
Census Bureau backpedaled on changes to disabilities questions.
—USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024
Purdy, whose arm strength contributed to his seventh-round draft standing, actually overthrew Aiyuk only to have the ball bounce off the facemask of a backpedaling Kindle Vildor.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024
The move from the Recording Academy backpedaled on its 2021 decision to expand the categories from eight to 10.
1h ago / 11:36 AM PST
Who is performing at the Grammys?
Nicole Acevedo
What would music’s biggest night be without a stellar lineup of performances?
—Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2024
That was the beginning of an 18-4 run, ending when Cormac Ryan buried his own transition 3 against the backpedaling Demon Deacons for a 59-45 lead with 11:46 left.
—Aaron Beard, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024
But companies have been backpedaling in the past year amid recession fears, with big companies paring back DEI roles, just as these practices become a political and legal target.
—Taylor Telford, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2023
Now the opposition has so taken hold that even the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has declared time and again that funding the war in Ukraine was one of his top priorities, seemed to be backpedaling.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024
Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2024
But many firms backpedal in 2023, and the Supreme Court for the first time rules that preferences based on race in college admissions are unconstitutional.
—Emma Kumer, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
Census Bureau backpedaled on changes to disabilities questions.
—USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024
Purdy, whose arm strength contributed to his seventh-round draft standing, actually overthrew Aiyuk only to have the ball bounce off the facemask of a backpedaling Kindle Vildor.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024
The move from the Recording Academy backpedaled on its 2021 decision to expand the categories from eight to 10.
1h ago / 11:36 AM PST
Who is performing at the Grammys?
Nicole Acevedo
What would music’s biggest night be without a stellar lineup of performances?
—Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2024
That was the beginning of an 18-4 run, ending when Cormac Ryan buried his own transition 3 against the backpedaling Demon Deacons for a 59-45 lead with 11:46 left.
—Aaron Beard, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024
But companies have been backpedaling in the past year amid recession fears, with big companies paring back DEI roles, just as these practices become a political and legal target.
—Taylor Telford, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2023
Now the opposition has so taken hold that even the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has declared time and again that funding the war in Ukraine was one of his top priorities, seemed to be backpedaling.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backpedal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backpedal. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
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