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
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Recent Examples of backed down
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
Kimmel is once again on the air throughout the country now that rebellious affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair have backed down and agreed to resume airing his ABC late-night show after a weeklong standoff.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Danford also hasn’t backed down from physical plays in ugly areas while defending.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The agency backed down within two months.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Eventually, the White House and the Treasury backed down.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Sweeney has yet to address the drama herself, but American Eagle has not backed down.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
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
Kimmel is once again on the air throughout the country now that rebellious affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair have backed down and agreed to resume airing his ABC late-night show after a weeklong standoff.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Danford also hasn’t backed down from physical plays in ugly areas while defending.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The agency backed down within two months.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
Eventually, the White House and the Treasury backed down.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Sweeney has yet to address the drama herself, but American Eagle has not backed down.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed down
Verb
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But seeing Scherzer grow animated as Schneider approached, shortstop Andrés Giménez backed off.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Trump had earlier suggested Chicago could be the next target of a National Guard deployment but has since backed off out of concern that doing so without Pritzker’s agreement could create legal headache, sources familiar with the matter told CNN last month.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The winning bidder for that project backed out amid conflict of interest allegations.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
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Plus, the captain tells Lo that the passenger assigned to cabin 10 backed out days before departure.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20down. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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