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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back down
Israel was reluctant to agree to a UN mandate for the international force but backed down under US pressure, according to a senior Israeli official.
—
Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
The boom comes as the tariff spat with Washington has kicked up nationalistic support in China, and a promise not to back down in its face-off with the US.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Removing this layer restricts the tree from moving water up from the roots or nutrients back down, a process known as girdling.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
Squeeze the upper back at the top of the position before lowering back down.
—Leoni Jesner, Health, 1 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
The boom comes as the tariff spat with Washington has kicked up nationalistic support in China, and a promise not to back down in its face-off with the US.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Removing this layer restricts the tree from moving water up from the roots or nutrients back down, a process known as girdling.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2025
Squeeze the upper back at the top of the position before lowering back down.
—Leoni Jesner, Health, 1 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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Pulling up from the free-throw line with a defender a few feet ahead, Andrews’ midrange jumper rattled inside the basket before popping back out as the buzzer sounded.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
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Other elk were nearby, and Scrivner thought it best to back out of the area and meet with his Army buddy Joe Cooper.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But last month, Critchfield backed off in the face of a challenging state budget.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
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Tensions came to a head when Carrie confronted her for backing off.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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On Thursday, there were 652 officers on the force, with nearly 100 cops out on some kind of administrative or medical leave.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Aug. 2025
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But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.—
Maris Kreizman,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Love recalled visiting a Nashville-area location with her best friend when they were told it had been discontinued.—
Peter Burke,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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The founder recalled that the brand, which turns 16 this year, began with the strategy of selling bags to sneaker boutiques, which at the time typically exclusively sold shoes; his concept was well-received.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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