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
Under his leadership, the FDA backed away from a plan in March to ban people under 18 from using tanning beds.
—
Kff Health News, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Lindsey backed away onto a median and Milligan followed him.
—Caroline Zimmerman
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Raman has since backed away from the ban.
—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
But while returning from China aboard Air Force One on Friday, the President backed away from that, while also criticizing Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico, without mentioning the State Representative by name.
—May 17, CBS News, 17 May 2026
But there are clear signs that Miller has not backed away from his own views on immigration—including on H-2B visas.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
After several hours of station-keeping, Gemini 6—commanded by Wally Schirra, alongside rookie astronaut Tom Stafford—backed away, and began easing down to a lower orbit, preparing to reenter.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 May 2026
Local governments across Florida have received letters from the state Department of Commerce declaring their comprehensive plan amendments since August 2024 to be null and void, have been sued or have backed away from planning changes to avoid legal peril.
—Haley Busch, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
The Georgia General Assembly tried to face the issue this year but backed away at the last minute from a bill that almost passed.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Kff Health News, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Lindsey backed away onto a median and Milligan followed him.
—Caroline Zimmerman
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Raman has since backed away from the ban.
—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
But while returning from China aboard Air Force One on Friday, the President backed away from that, while also criticizing Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico, without mentioning the State Representative by name.
—May 17, CBS News, 17 May 2026
But there are clear signs that Miller has not backed away from his own views on immigration—including on H-2B visas.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
After several hours of station-keeping, Gemini 6—commanded by Wally Schirra, alongside rookie astronaut Tom Stafford—backed away, and began easing down to a lower orbit, preparing to reenter.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 May 2026
Local governments across Florida have received letters from the state Department of Commerce declaring their comprehensive plan amendments since August 2024 to be null and void, have been sued or have backed away from planning changes to avoid legal peril.
—Haley Busch, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
The Georgia General Assembly tried to face the issue this year but backed away at the last minute from a bill that almost passed.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed away
Verb
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Less than a week later, the UA withdrew the offer.—
Ryan Anderson,
Arkansas Online,
29 May 2026
-
Historians say the original Liberty Pole was erected as British forces withdrew from New York following their defeat in the Revolutionary War, a symbolic act meant to assert American independence and taunt departing troops.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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While India’s media landscape has largely retreated in the face of the Hindu right’s fascism, Kandasamy is one of the few consistently at the barricades.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
Travel stocks — Shares of airlines and cruise operators rose as oil prices retreated on Wednesday.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Angels starter Reid Detmers retired his first 15 batters before Shay Whitcomb homered leading off the sixth.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
Beyond just one calamitous year, Payton took over a team that had lost its way for nearly a decade since Peyton Manning retired after Super Bowl 50.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The odds of the Clarity Act being passed this year have dropped back from almost 70% on the Polymarket prediction platform, falling to just over 50%.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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Wilson told the outlet that Junie knows her way home, adding that the cat could be dropped back off at the family's property.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Verb
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After Montreal pulled out, costs kept mounting for the two other Canadian host cities, Toronto and Vancouver.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
8 June 2026
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The Harris County Sheriff's Office told FOX26 that Erebia's son was putting gas into the Chevy Silverado when Hogan allegedly pulled out a gun and took the pickup truck.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20away. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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