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
Those outbursts, animated by the studio Bones, are some of the most spectacular of any anime this past decade — such as an early confrontation with a terrorist in which Mob grabs a bully by the face and takes him high into the air before crashing back down to earth like a meteor.
—
Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
So far, China has struck a defiant tone and refused to back down.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025
Roughly half a trillion dollars’ worth of Chinese goods, or 15 percent of China’s total annual exports, are imperiled by the trade war, but Chinese President Xi Jinping has shown no signs of backing down.
—Chang Che, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
This could be fiery and dramatic, but still no reason to back down.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
So far, China has struck a defiant tone and refused to back down.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2025
Roughly half a trillion dollars’ worth of Chinese goods, or 15 percent of China’s total annual exports, are imperiled by the trade war, but Chinese President Xi Jinping has shown no signs of backing down.
—Chang Che, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
This could be fiery and dramatic, but still no reason to back down.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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After initially making a deal with Davis — agreeing to get Cap to sell in exchange for getting him out of prison — Yancy officially backs out of the deal, losing out on $22 million in order to retain the ranch and his relationship with Ellie.—
Francesca Gariano,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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Another recruiter tests job seekers on responsibility, asking them to go back out the front door and come in the back through the kitchen.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The corporate elite are playing nice, hoping that doing so will buy them time before President Donald Trump backs off on his profit-eroding, stock-depressing tariffs.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
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The other benefit of Amad playing at right wing-back is his understanding of when to jump up the pitch and when to back off.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 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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Friend recalls Read behavior, finding O'Keefe's body O'Keefe's friend, Kerry Roberts, recounted Read's behavior on the morning his body was found.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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Since victims often do not recall their PIN immediately, the attackers guide them through their mobile banking application to retrieve this sensitive information.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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