as in to back down
to break a promise or agreement
she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back out
And flying everything back out of Iran would be another logistical nightmare.
—
Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Flutie did it his way, backing out of the pocket, flowing away from pressure and delivering a laser to the receiver running a seam route.
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
After Musk tried to back out, Twitter went to court in Delaware to force him to honor his original deal.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Boozer had the presence of mind, though, to get his own rebound off the block and pass the ball back out to his brother rather than trying to throw up another shot in a hurry.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Flutie did it his way, backing out of the pocket, flowing away from pressure and delivering a laser to the receiver running a seam route.
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
After Musk tried to back out, Twitter went to court in Delaware to force him to honor his original deal.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Boozer had the presence of mind, though, to get his own rebound off the block and pass the ball back out to his brother rather than trying to throw up another shot in a hurry.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back out
Verb
-
Storm glided back down the ramp and got into the face of Rousey.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
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Made in equal parts as creator Hugo Ensslin originally conceived it, the Green Chartreuse utterly dominates the experience, but back down the liqueur and boost the other two ingredients a touch, and the Tipperary is a bold but charming drink.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The governor backed off his battle with the oil companies last year after two refineries announced plans to close.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The aim is to cut close where safe, back off where risky, and avoid getting stuck.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To say these machines are too expense is a cop out.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
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Rather than throwing those bad cops out of the union and asking for better training so cops will never have to ask what to do when a fellow cop appears to have broken the law, Hendry encourages them.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Simmons' mother, Cheryl Simmons, recalled to CBS affiliate WBNS Friday the moment uniformed officers arrived at their home to deliver the news.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Laurent Brossoit, recalled from the Barracuda of the AHL on Friday, backed up Nedeljkovic against the Canadiens and is an option to start the Sharks’ game on Sunday in Ottawa.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20out. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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