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
The same team saw a Russian man enter his home in Irvine but backed off after three hours parked outside.
—
Elliot Spagat, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Musk has backed off attacking the administration on X and, in some cases, appears to be fully supporting the White House.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
In both cases, Tibetans immediately backed off.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Trump has backed off demands for a short-term ceasefire, as Ukraine has demanded, and is instead focused on a broader agreement to permanently end the war.
—Colin Meyn, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Those ahead of him backed off, reluctant to engage.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025
Wednesday’s announcement makes Mooresville the latest city where developers have either backed off their plans for a data center, or had their plans for a data center voted down by local leaders amid public backlash.
—Bracey Harris, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Most teams backed off because of the injury.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2025
Elliot Spagat, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Musk has backed off attacking the administration on X and, in some cases, appears to be fully supporting the White House.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
In both cases, Tibetans immediately backed off.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Trump has backed off demands for a short-term ceasefire, as Ukraine has demanded, and is instead focused on a broader agreement to permanently end the war.
—Colin Meyn, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
Those ahead of him backed off, reluctant to engage.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025
Wednesday’s announcement makes Mooresville the latest city where developers have either backed off their plans for a data center, or had their plans for a data center voted down by local leaders amid public backlash.
—Bracey Harris, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Most teams backed off because of the injury.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed off
Verb
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Quintana said some organizations and companies backed out of sponsorships or being part of the march this year.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Sep. 2025
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By the time Sega backed out of the hardware race post-Dreamcast, Shinobi mostly limped on with a couple of 3D entries for PlayStation and Nintendo platforms before fading into obscurity.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sweeney has yet to address the drama herself, but American Eagle has not backed down.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
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While the city has backed down from its request for a consultant, an audit will cost about $15,000 — money the city is not providing but the organization is willing to foot, Pinion said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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