as in backing 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 backing out
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
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
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
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
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing out
Verb
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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
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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
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 out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backing%20out. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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