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
Apple never backed down and the FBI found a way to unlock the phone anyway, using bugs that already existed in Apple’s code, effectively providing the back door that law enforcement sought in the first place.
—
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Google appears to have backed down in its AI dispute with Disney.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The administration has eased its tone and admitted mistakes in its immigration enforcement campaign since Pretti’s killing, but hasn’t backed down completely or paused operations in Minneapolis, as critics demanded.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And Zelensky just hasn’t backed down, and Zelensky’s had the temerity to take him on, on a number of occasions, to push back.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Twelves hooked up to a hydrant, and Alves grabbed a chainsaw off the rig to trim some of the trees along the houses as the fire backed down the hill toward them.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Israel was reluctant to agree to a UN mandate for the international force but backed down under US pressure, according to a senior Israeli official.
—Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
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
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Google appears to have backed down in its AI dispute with Disney.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The administration has eased its tone and admitted mistakes in its immigration enforcement campaign since Pretti’s killing, but hasn’t backed down completely or paused operations in Minneapolis, as critics demanded.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And Zelensky just hasn’t backed down, and Zelensky’s had the temerity to take him on, on a number of occasions, to push back.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Twelves hooked up to a hydrant, and Alves grabbed a chainsaw off the rig to trim some of the trees along the houses as the fire backed down the hill toward them.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Israel was reluctant to agree to a UN mandate for the international force but backed down under US pressure, according to a senior Israeli official.
—Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed down
Verb
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For years, credit card issuers and other businesses that have backed off using magnetic strips in favor of more secure EMV chips and contactless RFID technology, commonly known as tap to pay.—
Madison Smalstig,
Sacbee.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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In the end, the council came to a resolution on a police contract and backed off plans to change any positions.—
Jennifer Borrasso,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But Viacom backed out of the deal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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In the late 1990s, SoftBank almost bought a 30% stake in Amazon for $100 million but backed out as Jeff Bezos believed his company was worth 16% more than Son’s valuation.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20down. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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