BACK DOWN Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

back down

verb

Definition of back down

as in to back out

to break a promise or agreement if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date

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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 down But Iranian leaders won’t back down in the face of more force. — Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2026 Solar activity eventually dragged the telescope back down to Earth. — News Editor, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026 Inflation had come back down to earth in the last year of Joe Biden’s presidency, but that wasn’t enough to convince voters to give Democrats another chance in 2024. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026 The Soviets didn't design a way to bring her back down to Earth. — Hanneke Weitering, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down

Verb

When the bidding escalated beyond his threshold, Baffert’s money man backed out, but the trainer, too far gone on the horse, kept raising his hand.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Global temperatures could overshoot targets in the short term, so long as enough carbon was eventually sucked back out of the air to bring those temperatures back down.

— Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of back out

Verb

Territorial Dominance When smaller birds back off from a confrontation and cede their spot at the feeder, blue jays look even more hostile.

— Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Oct. 2026
Florida appears to have backed off its plans to spend nearly $200 million in federal funds meant for electric car chargers on flying cars instead, according to documents obtained by the Miami Herald.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of back off

Verb

Lozano Garita said as he was led by cops out of the 101st Precinct stationhouse Tuesday afternoon to be arraigned in Queens Criminal Court.

— Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026
Strategic shakeup Usually buying and selling is a cop out, but with where the Red Sox are in their competitive cycle the approach might make some sense.

— Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026

Definition of cop out

Verb

In brain-mapping studies that recalled Wilder Penfield’s pioneering work, his team steadily uncovered fundamental principles of how speech is represented by neural activity.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
At its very top, the structure features a golden-hued cherub hoisting a flaming torch that recalls a smaller version of the Statue of Liberty.

— Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of recall

Browse Nearby Words

backcountry

back down

backdrop

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“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of back down

verb

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