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
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Recent Examples of backed off
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
When Parsons then tried to get his agent involved before putting ink to paper, Jones backed off the deal.
—Jon MacHota, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Small and mid-sized countries that were energetically pursuing Security Council reform have backed off and are waiting for a clear signal of what—if anything—Trump will say about it.
—Richard Gowan, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
Microsoft backed off on almost all of Windows 8’s design decisions in the following years after the dramatic UI shift proved unpopular with traditional mouse-and-keyboard users, but touchscreen PCs like Microsoft’s Surface lineup have persisted even as the software has changed.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
With the memo released Friday, Levine Cava backed off several more austerity measures.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Still, Allen-Green’s group backed off and began formulating other plans without any closures.
—Mila Koumpilova, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2025
The same team saw a Russian man enter his home in Irvine but backed off after three hours parked outside.
—Elliot Spagat, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
In both cases, Tibetans immediately backed off.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Hanna Park, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
When Parsons then tried to get his agent involved before putting ink to paper, Jones backed off the deal.
—Jon MacHota, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Small and mid-sized countries that were energetically pursuing Security Council reform have backed off and are waiting for a clear signal of what—if anything—Trump will say about it.
—Richard Gowan, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
Microsoft backed off on almost all of Windows 8’s design decisions in the following years after the dramatic UI shift proved unpopular with traditional mouse-and-keyboard users, but touchscreen PCs like Microsoft’s Surface lineup have persisted even as the software has changed.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025
With the memo released Friday, Levine Cava backed off several more austerity measures.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Still, Allen-Green’s group backed off and began formulating other plans without any closures.
—Mila Koumpilova, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2025
The same team saw a Russian man enter his home in Irvine but backed off after three hours parked outside.
—Elliot Spagat, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
In both cases, Tibetans immediately backed off.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed off
Verb
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Series star James Van Der Beek backed out last minute due to illness, but still made a surprise appearance at the event in a sweet video message for attendees and his fellow cast members.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Sep. 2025
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Utah prep receiver Kai Meza backed out of his commitment to the Gophers football program on Sunday.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Danford also hasn’t backed down from physical plays in ugly areas while defending.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20off. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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