BACKED (UP OR AWAY) Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

backed (up or away)

verb

past tense of back (up or away)

as in retired

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed (up or away)

Verb

Despite overcoming early battery recalls to post record sales figures, GM retired the hatchback to retool its factory for electric trucks and sunset its aging battery platform.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026
His diagnoses ultimately affected his ability to play music, and Phil retired ahead of his rock band Genesis’ final tour in 2022.

— Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of retired

Verb

Wilson grew up in Louisiana as the son of a sharecropper and ran away from home with just an elementary education.

— Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Stefanía Arteaga, the co-executive director of Carolina Migrant Network, said she’s heard from people who hid in the forest and ran away in fear during the arrests.

— Diamy Wang, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of ran away

Verb

Exxon shares retreated about 2% in premarket trading on Friday as it’s adjusted per-share profit narrowly missed forecasts.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Out of possession, Benfica looked to man-mark higher up the pitch but retreated into their customary 4-2-3-1 shape as teams got forward, with the wingers moving infield as seen below.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Definition of retreated

Verb

The union also says the management company interrogated and surveilled workers during a strike in June, when employees walked out to fight for higher wages and better benefits.

— Aki Nace, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
But on Sunday morning, as the couple walked out of their rideshare outside Midway Airport, they were apprehended by federal immigration agents.

— Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of walked out

Verb

Slowly, like a gently outgoing tide, my clutch of colleagues eventually receded back indoors to their work stations.

— Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026
Before the water had even fully receded, Hurricane Milton was bearing down as a Category 5, forcing the family to brace for a second direct hit while still standing in the wreckage of the first.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of receded

Verb

During the dispute, one of the men pulled out a gun and fired between five and 10 shots before fleeing the store, according to police.

— Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Real Madrid, the last club standing in the effort, formally pulled out this past February.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of pulled out

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backed (up)

backed (up or away)

backer

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“Backed (up or away).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20%28up%20or%20away%29. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of backed (up or away)

verb

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