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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 down
And more than anything, more than the animosity between the programs, more than the College Football Playoff impact, more than Notre Dame puffing its chest out as USC backed down, that familiarity was the real higher power at work.
—
Pete Sampson, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The Administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
In each case, leaders backed down after neighbors objected.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
China has been one of the few countries that hasn't backed down, relying on its economic clout.
—NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
China has been one of the few countries that hasn’t backed down, relying on its economic clout.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
The White House backed down, but Nixon’s directive had been recorded.
—Douglas M. Charles, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Kimmel is once again on the air throughout the country now that rebellious affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair have backed down and agreed to resume airing his ABC late-night show after a weeklong standoff.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Pete Sampson, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The Administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
In each case, leaders backed down after neighbors objected.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
China has been one of the few countries that hasn't backed down, relying on its economic clout.
—NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
China has been one of the few countries that hasn’t backed down, relying on its economic clout.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
The White House backed down, but Nixon’s directive had been recorded.
—Douglas M. Charles, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
Kimmel is once again on the air throughout the country now that rebellious affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair have backed down and agreed to resume airing his ABC late-night show after a weeklong standoff.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed down
Verb
-
But seeing Scherzer grow animated as Schneider approached, shortstop Andrés Giménez backed off.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Trump had earlier suggested Chicago could be the next target of a National Guard deployment but has since backed off out of concern that doing so without Pritzker’s agreement could create legal headache, sources familiar with the matter told CNN last month.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Such was not the case in 2021, when UCLA backed out five hours before kickoff against North Carolina State.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The winning bidder for that project backed out amid conflict of interest allegations.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20down. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share