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
And yet governments and corporations are now backing off on previous climate goals, and the planet's annual greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb.
—
Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
But Pages did not pursue it to the wall, backing off to play the ball on a bounce.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2025
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
Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025
But Pages did not pursue it to the wall, backing off to play the ball on a bounce.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing off
Verb
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After backing out of Monday's Dawson's Creek cast reunion in New York City due to illness, James Van Der Beek still made a surprise appearance at the event in a sweet video message for attendees and his fellow cast members.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Sep. 2025
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This could either result in investors backing out of purchasing the debt, or demanding higher interest payments to offset the risk.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This is a nice, rare moment of Cipher actually backing down slightly.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
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Still, manager Aaron Boone isn't backing down.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backing%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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