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
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
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.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
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
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.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed down
Verb
-
Trump appears to have backed off those tariffs—for now—but the markets (and much of Europe) reacted sharply to the threat.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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Late in the second half, Kuhr backed off the blitz some and called more Cover 2 to reduce the chances of a breakaway touchdown that could fast-track Houston's comeback efforts.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Will Arnett will fill David Harbour's shoes after the Stranger Things star backed out of director Tony Gilroy's upcoming drama, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
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But contracts for the sale fell through and would-be buyers backed out.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20down. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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