backed away

verb

past tense of back away
as in withdrew
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backed away Traditional fashion media may have backed away from harsh sartorial criticism, but the internet certainly hasn’t. — Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026 Pomares backed away, avoiding what could have become another dangerous encounter. — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 Trump responded by threatening to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum before both sides backed away. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 With officers initially unable to determine what had happened inside, police backed away, established a perimeter and treated the home as a barricaded situation. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Disney subsequently backed away from its demands and started to sell 30-second berths for $8 million to $9 million, according to people familiar with the talks. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026 There was no hint of trouble in weather or sky as the thirty-foot trolling boat Roamer cast off her lines, backed away from the dock, and moved out across Munising Bay. — James D. Oxley, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026 After questioning Comey and his wife, the Secret Service backed away from opening a full investigation. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 31 July 2026 As Rocket Lab’s Puma backed away, True Anomaly’s Jackal executed more burns to reengage and image its prey. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed away
  1. withdrew
  2. retreated
  3. retired
  4. dropped back
  5. pulled out
Verb
  • Private developers in at least 11 communities withdrew from prospective deals with DHS.
    — María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The filing follows the early conclusion of its 2026 season in Indianapolis after its primary financial backer withdrew support.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of withdrew
Verb
  • Though gas prices retreated somewhat in the late spring and early summer, the dip was short lived.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • After a brief standoff with the buzzing, metal alien, the bobcat carefully retreated, sidestepping into an adjacent empty room.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of retreated
Verb
  • After a 3-2 called third strike with two out to Conine in the ninth was overturned on the ABS review, Zeferjahn retired Otto Lopez on a flyout to right.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Bob Green, now retired, was the first detective assigned to Erica’s case.
    — Yana Johnson, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of retired
Verb
  • Gall and Roglič, with the help of teammates who dropped back from the remnants of the breakaway, limited their losses to 27 seconds to Mas.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Taylor dropped back three steps and arced a jump ball into the corner over Barron and into the mitts of Sheppard, who appeared to scrape both toes along the turf before the Broncos’ stopper shoved him out of bounds.
    — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of dropped back
Verb
  • The army has published footage of rescues via helicopter, and of people being pulled out of the hydropower tunnels, completely caked in mud.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Fans also protested against the potential £40m deal to sell homegrown talent Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest, which Everton then pulled out of before the midfielder could travel for a medical.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of pulled out

Browse Nearby Words

backed
backed away
backed down
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Cite this Entry

“Backed away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20away. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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