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
The state backed down after the outcry.
—
John Aguilar, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Carpenter hasn’t backed down and continues to stand firm on her controversial music.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
In Alexandria, for instance, councilors recently tried to raise utility costs 60% to fund a clean water project, but after dozens of residents packed a city council meeting to complain, leaders backed down.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
Getting backed down by Dončić was only one piece of an embarrassing bloodbath for the Bulls that highlighted every facet of this team’s defensive deficiencies.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Apple never backed down and the FBI found a way to unlock the phone anyway, using bugs that already existed in Apple’s code, effectively providing the back door that law enforcement sought in the first place.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Google appears to have backed down in its AI dispute with Disney.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The administration has eased its tone and admitted mistakes in its immigration enforcement campaign since Pretti’s killing, but hasn’t backed down completely or paused operations in Minneapolis, as critics demanded.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And Zelensky just hasn’t backed down, and Zelensky’s had the temerity to take him on, on a number of occasions, to push back.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
John Aguilar, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Carpenter hasn’t backed down and continues to stand firm on her controversial music.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
In Alexandria, for instance, councilors recently tried to raise utility costs 60% to fund a clean water project, but after dozens of residents packed a city council meeting to complain, leaders backed down.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
Getting backed down by Dončić was only one piece of an embarrassing bloodbath for the Bulls that highlighted every facet of this team’s defensive deficiencies.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Apple never backed down and the FBI found a way to unlock the phone anyway, using bugs that already existed in Apple’s code, effectively providing the back door that law enforcement sought in the first place.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Google appears to have backed down in its AI dispute with Disney.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The administration has eased its tone and admitted mistakes in its immigration enforcement campaign since Pretti’s killing, but hasn’t backed down completely or paused operations in Minneapolis, as critics demanded.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And Zelensky just hasn’t backed down, and Zelensky’s had the temerity to take him on, on a number of occasions, to push back.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed down
Verb
-
Hialeah eventually backed off of the effort.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The Ravens took a swing in the trade market, but backed off on an acquisition that would have brought star pass rusher Maxx Crosby for two first-round draft picks.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the seller backed out of the deal.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
So after winning a chance to spend $560 for individual tickets in a FIFA lottery last fall, Levinson backed out.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20down. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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