as in to back down
to break a promise or agreement
you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance
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Recent Examples of back off
Dispensing with the traditional independence of the Fed from politics, the president has threatened to fire Powell but backed off down.
—
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025
As Iran and Israel trade blows, the Iranian regime has signaled a willingness to resume discussions with the U.S., the officials said, adding that the Trump administration has been looking for more concrete commitments before backing off the war path.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 17 June 2025
Perhaps most importantly, President Donald Trump backed off from the stiffest tariffs on key U.S. partners as countries continue to negotiate trade deals in the summer.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 26 June 2025
The talks between Russia, Ukraine and third countries have struggled to make progress after Moscow refused to back off its maximalist demands and presented a ceasefire proposal that would essentially amount to Ukraine’s capitulation.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for back off
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025
As Iran and Israel trade blows, the Iranian regime has signaled a willingness to resume discussions with the U.S., the officials said, adding that the Trump administration has been looking for more concrete commitments before backing off the war path.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 17 June 2025
Perhaps most importantly, President Donald Trump backed off from the stiffest tariffs on key U.S. partners as countries continue to negotiate trade deals in the summer.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 26 June 2025
The talks between Russia, Ukraine and third countries have struggled to make progress after Moscow refused to back off its maximalist demands and presented a ceasefire proposal that would essentially amount to Ukraine’s capitulation.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for back off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back off
Verb
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Twice per day, on the way up and back down, Kosmos 2589 briefly passes near a large number of US government and commercial satellites in more conventional geosynchronous orbits but then quickly departs the vicinity.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
11 July 2025
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Beauty is not backing down from its inclusive positioning. E.l.f.—
Emma Sandler,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
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But despite Boyd’s efficiency, needing only 85 pitches to get through eight innings, Counsell wasn’t tempted to send him back out for the ninth.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
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Which is why Sherry Sweeney turns around and heads right back out, hoping to make more of those reunions happen.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
12 July 2025
Verb
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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
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The relative lack of substance across the board can’t help feeling like a cop out for a show that’s been capable of a lot more.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20off. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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