as in backed out
to break a promise or agreement
you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance
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 off
According to Stutzman, the WGSU has not backed off several demands, including the right to strike during the term of the agreement and a contract term that aligns with the MBA bargaining cycle.
—
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The administration backed off its most extreme plans.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
The Internal Revenue Service backed off audits of partnerships, while the White House ordered agencies to open up retirement plans to private equity and credit.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Musk quickly backed off his threat, and missions continued.
—Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026
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
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
After gold medal favorite Finley Melville Ives crashed out of contention, the top American contenders, rather sensibly, backed off in their second runs in men's freeski halfpipe qualifying.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
The Boston Celtics also retreated with their interest, while the Timberwolves, after showing a willingness to offer two second-round picks for Ellis, backed off as their Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit ramped up and became the priority.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The administration backed off its most extreme plans.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
The Internal Revenue Service backed off audits of partnerships, while the White House ordered agencies to open up retirement plans to private equity and credit.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Musk quickly backed off his threat, and missions continued.
—Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026
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
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
After gold medal favorite Finley Melville Ives crashed out of contention, the top American contenders, rather sensibly, backed off in their second runs in men's freeski halfpipe qualifying.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
The Boston Celtics also retreated with their interest, while the Timberwolves, after showing a willingness to offer two second-round picks for Ellis, backed off as their Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit ramped up and became the priority.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed off
Verb
-
The Raiders-Ravens deal for Maxx Crosby was the rare blockbuster that somehow became a boomerang after Baltimore backed out with medical concerns.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Zohran Mamdani has reportedly backed out of a CBS Sunday Morning interview thanks to Bari Weiss’s Twitter.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Backed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20off. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
