Synonyms of backed away

backed away

verb

past tense of back away

as in withdrew

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully

Synonyms & Similar Words

• withdrew
• retreated
• retired
• fell back
• dropped back
• pulled out
• lost ground
• gave way
• fled
• receded
• evacuated
• gave ground
• backed down
• left
• flew
• climbed down
• pulled away
• detached
• recoiled
• departed
• shrank
• flinched
• bowed out
• chickened (out)
• abandoned
• went
• vacated
• disengaged
• quit
• backtracked
• disentangled
• backpedaled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advanced
• faced
• confronted
• dared
• bearded
• braved
• defied
• breasted
• outbraved
• brazened

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of backed away

With officers initially unable to determine what had happened inside, police backed away, established a perimeter and treated the home as a barricaded situation. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Disney subsequently backed away from its demands and started to sell 30-second berths for $8 million to $9 million, according to people familiar with the talks. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026

There was no hint of trouble in weather or sky as the thirty-foot trolling boat Roamer cast off her lines, backed away from the dock, and moved out across Munising Bay. — James D. Oxley, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026

After questioning Comey and his wife, the Secret Service backed away from opening a full investigation. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 31 July 2026

As Rocket Lab’s Puma backed away, True Anomaly’s Jackal executed more burns to reengage and image its prey. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026

Semiconductors — The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) tanked for a fifth day, tumbling nearly 4%, as traders backed away from chip stocks. — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 29 July 2026

The Colorado school testing Mithril's drone, a public charter school called the John Adams Academy, is tapping private funding after the county backed away from providing $200,000 for the program. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 29 July 2026

All three officers immediately backed away from Morgan, while Kephart retreated next to his patrol car. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 19 July 2026