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
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Recent Examples of back down
Winiarski sued over the name, and Doumani did not back down.
—
Patrick Comiskey, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
When a hype video played before his speech, the crowd laughed when criticism from Bernie Sanders, Tucker Carlson, and Lou Dobbs played on the screens—a nod to the fact that Koch is reviled by those who otherwise share zero in common, yet has not backed down.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 2 May 2025
The overall goal is to push them back down to the Darién Gap.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
But the financial and stock markets have not fully recovered from rising fears around the globe that Trump will not back down from slapping higher levies on foreign nations.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Patrick Comiskey, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
When a hype video played before his speech, the crowd laughed when criticism from Bernie Sanders, Tucker Carlson, and Lou Dobbs played on the screens—a nod to the fact that Koch is reviled by those who otherwise share zero in common, yet has not backed down.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 2 May 2025
The overall goal is to push them back down to the Darién Gap.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
But the financial and stock markets have not fully recovered from rising fears around the globe that Trump will not back down from slapping higher levies on foreign nations.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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Trainers wrapped Kornet’s arm up, sent him back out there, and watched his energy catalyze the rest of his team.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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American Promise, Journalism and Sandman are the only three Derby horses lining up for this year’s Preakness, after Sovereignty backed out citing the tight turnaround.—
Sam Cohn,
Baltimore Sun,
12 May 2025
Verb
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That direct encouragement accelerated an equity market rally which began as the president showed further inclination to back off of his most aggressive trade war plans and brandished a new trade deal with the U.K., the first such agreement of his second term.—
Derek Saul,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Trump quickly backed off the reciprocal plan amid a market rout and mounting criticism.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
8 May 2025
Verb
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About 20 minutes later, the two cops out in front were joined by a third officer.—
Melody Chiu,
People.com,
7 Jan. 2025
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The judges avoid giving critiques to the girls this week but do talk among one another, which is kind of weird but also means that nobody gets to cop out of Rate-a-Queen and just imitate the judges.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Cain ripped a single into left field, a ball that, as then-general manager Dayton Moore recalled, hugged the line.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
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Torres recalled how her slain sibling had been dating someone else before taking up with the new boyfriend — with Lisette’s life then falling to pieces over the course of a few spiraling months, according to her sister.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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