as in backing 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 backing off
Hendrickson had previously asked to be traded during the offseason before backing off, and now the team is reportedly open to trade offers for him.
—
Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Up next, is Elon Musk already backing off his promise to launch a third party?
—ABC News, 24 Aug. 2025
While Israeli officials are reportedly still looking at the deal Hamas accepted, Netanyahu has not signaled backing off the offensive on Gaza City, calling up approximately 60,000 Israeli troops for the massive military undertaking and with no clear end state.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 23 Aug. 2025
The sharp improvement to +4 percentage points from -15 percentage points has come with a surge in stocks that followed the president backing off in from sweeping reciprocal tariffs and the passage of tax legislation.
—Steve Liesman, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, North Korea shows no sign of backing off its nuclear status, with Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, saying last month that Pyongyang won’t give up its warheads in exchange for talks with Washington and Seoul.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Up next, is Elon Musk already backing off his promise to launch a third party?
—ABC News, 24 Aug. 2025
While Israeli officials are reportedly still looking at the deal Hamas accepted, Netanyahu has not signaled backing off the offensive on Gaza City, calling up approximately 60,000 Israeli troops for the massive military undertaking and with no clear end state.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 23 Aug. 2025
The sharp improvement to +4 percentage points from -15 percentage points has come with a surge in stocks that followed the president backing off in from sweeping reciprocal tariffs and the passage of tax legislation.
—Steve Liesman, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, North Korea shows no sign of backing off its nuclear status, with Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, saying last month that Pyongyang won’t give up its warheads in exchange for talks with Washington and Seoul.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing off
Verb
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Early decision is not a legal contract, but there can be serious consequences from backing out of acceptance.—
Mary Frances Ruskell,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
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When backing out the federal business, the rest of world security order growth increased by double digits in the fourth quarter.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In fact Putin’s history of backing down from threats points to vulnerabilities beneath the surface.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backing%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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