as in backed off
to break a promise or agreement
if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of backed down
Israel was reluctant to agree to a UN mandate for the international force but backed down under US pressure, according to a senior Israeli official.
—
Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
And more than anything, more than the animosity between the programs, more than the College Football Playoff impact, more than Notre Dame puffing its chest out as USC backed down, that familiarity was the real higher power at work.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The Administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
In each case, leaders backed down after neighbors objected.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
China has been one of the few countries that hasn't backed down, relying on its economic clout.
—NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
China has been one of the few countries that hasn’t backed down, relying on its economic clout.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
The White House backed down, but Nixon’s directive had been recorded.
—Douglas M. Charles, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
And more than anything, more than the animosity between the programs, more than the College Football Playoff impact, more than Notre Dame puffing its chest out as USC backed down, that familiarity was the real higher power at work.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The Administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
In each case, leaders backed down after neighbors objected.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
China has been one of the few countries that hasn't backed down, relying on its economic clout.
—NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
China has been one of the few countries that hasn’t backed down, relying on its economic clout.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
The White House backed down, but Nixon’s directive had been recorded.
—Douglas M. Charles, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed down
Verb
-
Dado Ruvic | Reuters Bitcoin on Tuesday plunged below $100,000 for the first time in more than four months, as cryptocurrency holders backed off the risk-on asset amid growing concerns about the sustainability of stock valuations driven to stratospheric heights by the artificial intelligence trade.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
-
In Cincinnati's case, the developer and city backed off, ending the referendum.—
Carl Weiser,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
She got accepted for one, but then the sellers backed out.—
Celia Fernandez,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The president formerly backed out of a planned interview with Scott Pelley in October ahead of the 2024 presidential election.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20down. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share