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
Trump backed down, for now, on his threat to forcibly annex the country in large part because of how poorly his plans were received domestically.
—
Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Never one to back down, Adamczyková went for it, diving feet-first into the line for every millimeter of a photo finish.
—Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
The good news is that Trump can be made to back down.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Speaking on Wednesday, International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Mark Adams urged Heraskeyvch to back down.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back down
Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Never one to back down, Adamczyková went for it, diving feet-first into the line for every millimeter of a photo finish.
—Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
The good news is that Trump can be made to back down.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Speaking on Wednesday, International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Mark Adams urged Heraskeyvch to back down.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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Get ready to pull the winter coats back out, Kansas City.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
Updated February 19,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
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Some officers rushed back out to get a mask.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But multiple Democratic senators said that's not enough to persuade them to back off their demands.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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But a large number of job gains might make Federal Reserve policymakers back off any further interest-rate cuts this year.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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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Now back practicing with the Sharks since he was recalled from the Barracuda on Wednesday, Leddy’s playing career is somewhat in limbo, with a return to the AHL, a move to another team, or remaining on San Jose’s NHL roster all possibilities in the coming days and weeks.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2026
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This is where the concrete jungle meets the actual jungle, where every hike rewards with Instagram-worthy vistas and beaches recalling Caribbean-style island time.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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