as in backed off
to break a promise or agreement
if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date
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Recent Examples of backed down
Turner eventually backed down, deciding the colorization process was not cost-efficient.
—
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 6 May 2026
Benavidez, even when being backed down by Ramirez, delivered his signature rapid-fire combinations, usually pelting his opponent's head.
—ABC News, 3 May 2026
The Republican House leader backed down after Senate GOP leaders agreed to quickly move forward with the reconciliation bill.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
But so far, the Justice Department has not backed down.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
The state backed down after the outcry.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Carpenter hasn’t backed down and continues to stand firm on her controversial music.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
In Alexandria, for instance, councilors recently tried to raise utility costs 60% to fund a clean water project, but after dozens of residents packed a city council meeting to complain, leaders backed down.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 6 May 2026
Benavidez, even when being backed down by Ramirez, delivered his signature rapid-fire combinations, usually pelting his opponent's head.
—ABC News, 3 May 2026
The Republican House leader backed down after Senate GOP leaders agreed to quickly move forward with the reconciliation bill.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
But so far, the Justice Department has not backed down.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
The state backed down after the outcry.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Carpenter hasn’t backed down and continues to stand firm on her controversial music.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
In Alexandria, for instance, councilors recently tried to raise utility costs 60% to fund a clean water project, but after dozens of residents packed a city council meeting to complain, leaders backed down.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed down
Verb
-
The administration backed off ending the government conservatorship of the mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
-
Officers briefly chased the suspect through Highland Park, but backed off.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The creators of Conan the Barbarian (1982), with whom Mattel had a contract to create a Conan toy line before the toy company backed out, sued Mattel in 1984.—
Sanat Pai RaikarAll,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
4 May 2026
-
But the seller backed out of the deal.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20down. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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