pullback

noun

pull·​back ˈpu̇l-ˌbak 

: a pulling back

especially : an orderly withdrawal of troops from a position or area

Synonyms of pullback

• withdrawal
• retreat

Examples of pullback in a Sentence

a pullback in consumer spending

the pullback was necessary so that the commanders could reorganize their units and reassess the situation

Recent Examples on the Web

Futures on the Cboe Volatility Index fear gauge increased, rising above 20, as investors braced for a pullback. — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Investigative committees will demand answers from the administration about everything from offshore wind lease pullbacks to the diesel deal with Moscow. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Marvell, despite the aggressive pullback in AI stocks last week, believes the investment is still warranted. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

There was also no aggressive move into — and subsequent pullback from — China, which many big brands undertook in the early 2020s. — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pullback

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback