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
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
But the president backed off after appeals from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and tech executives, including Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO whose family name is attached to the Oakland children’s hospital.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
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
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
But last month, Critchfield backed off in the face of a challenging state budget.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
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
But the president backed off after appeals from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and tech executives, including Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO whose family name is attached to the Oakland children’s hospital.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
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
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
But last month, Critchfield backed off in the face of a challenging state budget.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed off
Verb
-
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
-
At the Round Table, Lipinski backed out of voting for Rausch, and players' attitudes then shifted to voting off Anderson.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Backed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20off. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
