as in withdrew
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
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Recent Examples of backed away
The following week, the benchmark climbed more than 5% as the White House backed away from the most aggressive proposals.
—
Fred Imbert, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
After a short struggle, Delgado backed away from Broom, pulled his gun from his holster and ordered her to drop the knife, according to the report.
—David Goodhue
march 9, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
The decision comes as other global insurers have backed away from underwriting maritime trade activity in the Gulf amid concerns that vessels could become collateral damage in the Iran war.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Since the drawing of that second majority-black district, the state has backed away from that map, hoping to return to a plan that provides for only one majority-minority district.
—Zoe Sobel, NPR, 2 Mar. 2026
While some of the most powerful companies that once championed their diversity policies have now backed away from them and most have scrapped references to DEI, diversity advocates say many of the core policies continue today.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Town officials eventually stopped paying the fee and tribal officials threatened, but ultimately backed away, from barricading the roads again in early 2025.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 19 Feb. 2026
In some cases, extra vigilance means that faculty have backed away from initial commitments.
—Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 30 Jan. 2026
The other officers have all backed away at this point.
—Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Fred Imbert, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
After a short struggle, Delgado backed away from Broom, pulled his gun from his holster and ordered her to drop the knife, according to the report.
—David Goodhue
march 9, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
The decision comes as other global insurers have backed away from underwriting maritime trade activity in the Gulf amid concerns that vessels could become collateral damage in the Iran war.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Since the drawing of that second majority-black district, the state has backed away from that map, hoping to return to a plan that provides for only one majority-minority district.
—Zoe Sobel, NPR, 2 Mar. 2026
While some of the most powerful companies that once championed their diversity policies have now backed away from them and most have scrapped references to DEI, diversity advocates say many of the core policies continue today.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
Town officials eventually stopped paying the fee and tribal officials threatened, but ultimately backed away, from barricading the roads again in early 2025.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 19 Feb. 2026
In some cases, extra vigilance means that faculty have backed away from initial commitments.
—Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 30 Jan. 2026
The other officers have all backed away at this point.
—Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed away
Verb
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Actor Issa Rae and author Louise Penny also withdrew from appearances while consultants such as musician Ben Folds and singer Renée Fleming resigned.—
Steven Sloan,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
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After the embassy contacted families, about two-thirds of the students — roughly 250 children, including around 100 Americans — withdrew from the school and returned to their home countries, according to parents and a person familiar with the investigation.—
Mark Banchereau,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, has retreated from the near-$120 per barrel seen earlier in the week, as the International Energy Agency agreed on Wednesday to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from its emergency reserves.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
O’Brien has not retreated from public life.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Johnson, 80, retired at Mission Viejo after the 2017 season as Orange County’s all-time leader in coaching victories with 338, according to county football historian Dennis Bateman.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Grandisson, now retired, worked as an executive in the insurance industry.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Golden State Warriors just dropped back-to-back games to the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
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No quarterback in the NFL has dropped back more times in the past two seasons than Nix.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The victim pulled out a firearm, which McDonald attempted to take, the statement said.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Contreras-Gafaro and another man, who officials did not identify, pulled out guns inside an Aurora apartment in the 1300 block of North Laredo Street on June 12, 2024, according to a news release from the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20away. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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