backed (up)

verb

past tense of back (up)
1
as in testified (to)

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2
as in hardened

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed (up)
  1. hardened
  2. coagulated
  3. set
  4. congealed
Verb
  • As speeds increased and night driving became routine, these simple visibility requirements gradually hardened into the more technical headlight regulations that shaped modern automotive lighting design.
    — Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Yet the hatred of Dulles—so absolute in its consensus—reminds me of other ways in which our culture has hardened.
    — Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of hardened
Verb
  • For many of the protesters, a general sense of lawlessness – not supported by official crime figures for England and Wales, which broadly show a decrease over the past decade – had coagulated into a specific fear of migrants.
    — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Definition of coagulated
Verb
  • Getz’s rebuild turned a corner only two seasons after a record-setting 121-loss year in 2024, making the Sox one of the game’s most remarkable comeback stories.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • That interplay of warmth, spice, and richer notes is what gives fall fragrances their unmistakable character, setting them apart from the lighter, brighter scents of spring and summer.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of set
Verb
  • Nu Jazz are a New York supergroup that’s congealed out of a handful of overlapping scenes.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026
  • What began as a flurry of rumors about his next destination has now congealed into a protracted waiting game, one that has NBA teams, fans and even the league office looking at their proverbial watches.
    — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of congealed
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

backed out
backed (up)
backed (up or away)
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Cite this Entry

“Backed (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20%28up%29. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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