as in withdrawing
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
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Recent Examples of backing away
Rather than backing away from these practices, the administration has now publicly doubled down.
—
Amanda Cats-Baril, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026
The hopes of people opposed to ICE’s plans rested on the property owners of the warehouses backing away from the deals — but that has failed to happen.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Finally, the city is now backing away from its idea to charge to drive into Mission Bay Park and is instead looking at other options for solving its budget crisis.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
In a nation backing away from previous diversity commitments, there is little societal pressure for NFL owners to be better.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
At least six city councilors, Culpepper, Ed Flynn, Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Erin Murphy and Brian Worrell, swiftly issued statements or wrote to Wu administration officials expressing concern about backing away from prior commitments made to the majority-Black and brown community.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
After initially backing away, the boy stabbed Gutierrez three times, authorities said.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
While backing away, the victim eventually collapsed, and Thurman walked away toward a different car.
—Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Even as the legislation headed for victory in the Senate, some House members started backing away.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Amanda Cats-Baril, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026
The hopes of people opposed to ICE’s plans rested on the property owners of the warehouses backing away from the deals — but that has failed to happen.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Finally, the city is now backing away from its idea to charge to drive into Mission Bay Park and is instead looking at other options for solving its budget crisis.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
In a nation backing away from previous diversity commitments, there is little societal pressure for NFL owners to be better.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
At least six city councilors, Culpepper, Ed Flynn, Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Erin Murphy and Brian Worrell, swiftly issued statements or wrote to Wu administration officials expressing concern about backing away from prior commitments made to the majority-Black and brown community.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
After initially backing away, the boy stabbed Gutierrez three times, authorities said.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026
While backing away, the victim eventually collapsed, and Thurman walked away toward a different car.
—Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Even as the legislation headed for victory in the Senate, some House members started backing away.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing away
Verb
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Arguing that having a public apology circulating online would be unfair to their client, his attorneys instead handed Rose a paper note containing the apology before quickly withdrawing it.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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And naive, especially after the Soviet Union spent a decade fighting in Afghanistan to put communist allies in charge, before withdrawing its troops in 1989 amid failure.—
Jill Lawrence,
Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the third quarter, after taking a tumble, Green reached out and grabbed the ankle of a retreating Jabari Smith Jr.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
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However, the ice sheet has been retreating from the grounding line in the most vulnerable regions at a rate of more than 170 square miles per year.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Twin Cities will stay mild Monday night, with temperatures only falling back to around freezing.—
Chris Shaffer,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The rocket reached an altitude of 224 miles (360 km) before falling back to Earth.—
Julian Dossett,
Space.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Snook, a 10-year veteran of the Delaware State Police, was working an overtime shift at the DMV when Rose entered the building and sat in the waiting area for several minutes before pulling out a gun.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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This time, instead of pulling out another clever weapon, Peter walks straight towards his partner, insisting that Hagan has co-opted him for a dirty cause.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
Time,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jefferson Lerma performed reasonably well after dropping back from midfield, is strong in the air and offers experience despite it not being his primary position, but his hamstring injury against Burnley on February 11 meant even fewer options.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
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Temperatures remain steady in the upper 30s and lower 40s through sunset, before dropping back into the upper 20s and lower 30s as the forecast dries out overnight.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Liu won the 2025 World title last March, less than a year after returning to the sport after retiring days after the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
11 Mar. 2026
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The deal comes two days after the Chargers signed veteran center Tyler Biadasz to take over for the retiring Bradley Bozeman.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backing away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backing%20away. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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