as in backed off
to break a promise or agreement
she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning
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Recent Examples of backed out
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
But contracts for the sale fell through and would-be buyers backed out.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
She got accepted for one, but then the sellers backed out.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
The president formerly backed out of a planned interview with Scott Pelley in October ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025
Buda’s best friend had vowed to join him, but backed out at the last minute.
—Sean Williams, Outside, 27 Oct. 2025
Such was not the case in 2021, when UCLA backed out five hours before kickoff against North Carolina State.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2025
The winning bidder for that project backed out amid conflict of interest allegations.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Months earlier, Charlotte attempted to trade him to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Lakers backed out after the big man reportedly failed a physical examination.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
But contracts for the sale fell through and would-be buyers backed out.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
She got accepted for one, but then the sellers backed out.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
The president formerly backed out of a planned interview with Scott Pelley in October ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025
Buda’s best friend had vowed to join him, but backed out at the last minute.
—Sean Williams, Outside, 27 Oct. 2025
Such was not the case in 2021, when UCLA backed out five hours before kickoff against North Carolina State.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2025
The winning bidder for that project backed out amid conflict of interest allegations.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
Months earlier, Charlotte attempted to trade him to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Lakers backed out after the big man reportedly failed a physical examination.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed out
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
-
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
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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,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20out. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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