as in backed out
to break a promise or agreement
you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance
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Recent Examples of backed off
And some have backed off from a legal fight altogether and sold their refund rights to investment firms, often at a deep discount, figuring that getting something is better than risk getting nothing.
—
Alison Graham Larson, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Less than a month later, TSA committed to boost staffing, and Southwell backed off his threat.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
In each instance, officials backed off after residents objected.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
Some left-wing groups have backed off their insistence on filibuster elimination, at least for now.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Discouraged, Bennett and Shad backed off a bit and watched the fish return to the same position, giving Bennett enough time to calm down and re-rig with the same lure.
—Kubie Brown, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2026
The governor backed off his battle with the oil companies last year after two refineries announced plans to close.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
According to Stutzman, the WGSU has not backed off several demands, including the right to strike during the term of the agreement and a contract term that aligns with the MBA bargaining cycle.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The administration backed off its most extreme plans.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Alison Graham Larson, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Less than a month later, TSA committed to boost staffing, and Southwell backed off his threat.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
In each instance, officials backed off after residents objected.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
Some left-wing groups have backed off their insistence on filibuster elimination, at least for now.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Discouraged, Bennett and Shad backed off a bit and watched the fish return to the same position, giving Bennett enough time to calm down and re-rig with the same lure.
—Kubie Brown, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2026
The governor backed off his battle with the oil companies last year after two refineries announced plans to close.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
According to Stutzman, the WGSU has not backed off several demands, including the right to strike during the term of the agreement and a contract term that aligns with the MBA bargaining cycle.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The administration backed off its most extreme plans.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed off
Verb
-
The board’s decision to rename the center was followed by an exodus of artists who backed out of events, including Philip Glass and Renee Fleming.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The school allegedly backed out of the lease.—
Penny Kmitt,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Backed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20off. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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