as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
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Recent Examples of back away
If bees begin circling or bumping into you, treat it as a warning and back away immediately.
—
Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
But with the country’s economy in free fall, his government had little choice but to back away from its Marxist orthodoxies.
—Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The suspect slowed to a stop near what looked to be a homeless encampment near Bellingham Avenue, Vantage Avenue and Sylvan Street in North Hollywood, at which point an unknown woman approached the passenger side of the car until police told her to back away.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Medical groups representing doctors and patients were dismayed at the agency's decision to back away from tougher regulation of the devices, which are available at tanning salons and some major gym chains.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back away
Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
But with the country’s economy in free fall, his government had little choice but to back away from its Marxist orthodoxies.
—Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The suspect slowed to a stop near what looked to be a homeless encampment near Bellingham Avenue, Vantage Avenue and Sylvan Street in North Hollywood, at which point an unknown woman approached the passenger side of the car until police told her to back away.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Medical groups representing doctors and patients were dismayed at the agency's decision to back away from tougher regulation of the devices, which are available at tanning salons and some major gym chains.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back away
Verb
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World Liberty Financial borrowed so much USD1 from Dolomite that there is little left to borrow, meaning users who previously deposited the stablecoin on Dolomite may have trouble withdrawing, Vaiman said.—
Jack Kubinec,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
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Spain has been one of Israel's staunchest critics, electing to withdraw its ambassador to the country last month in protest of its actions in the Middle East.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Glaciers all over the world -- especially in Antarctica -- are also retreating at a rapid pace, recent research shows.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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After losing her job and her boyfriend, Jamie retreats to her small hometown in Texas, where her friends and memories of a fateful summer in high school turn her life upside down.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Much of it was lofted by tiny gas pockets into the upper water column, only to fall back downward after the bubbles fizzed into the atmosphere.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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While the monologue was a blast of fresh chaos (or at least the sense of chaos) with Black jamming out with White, the rest of the show didn’t have the same kind of verve, falling back on familiar sketch formulas.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2025, Angel City FC player Elizabeth Eddy, who retired this year, wrote an article in the New York Post arguing the NWSL must stipulate that participants in the league are born with ovaries or undergo gene testing.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Alex Vesia walked pinch-hitter Davis Schneider to load the bases, then retired the next three batters.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the crew returns to Earth on Friday, Rise will eventually drop back to the ground to indicate gravity has returned.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
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In the event tanker traffic begins to flow again, West Texas Intermediate oil futures should drop back into the $80s, or possibly $70s, short term.—
Jeff Kilburg,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20away. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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