BACKING AWAY Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

backing away

verb

present participle of back away

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of backing away And yet, for the first time in more than a century, the United States is not backing away. — Kevin Sieff, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 Zoom isn’t backing away from traditional commercials, says Storin, but sees a need to shift to new tactics as digitally-savvy consumers discover services, products and brands in different ways. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 21 July 2026 Even as beef prices continue to hit record highs, Burger King is not backing away from burgers. — Hallie Jackson, NBC news, 20 July 2026 According to the report, Sheets' girlfriend pleaded with him while backing away and heard one gunshot. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 8 July 2026 As the officers ask Marseille to put the dog away, bodycam video shows the second officer unholstering his gun and backing away from the barking dog. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 With sunbeams gleaming downward, reflecting off of the spacecraft's hull, the Dragon can be seen backing away from the station mere moments after undocking from the port on the station's Harmony module. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 23 June 2026 Big Oil is not backing away from renewables because the energy transition has stopped. — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026 Body-camera video shows an officer backing away. — City News Service, Daily News, 20 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing away

Verb

Major Medicare Advantage insurer Humana is withdrawing from certain markets for 2027, a move expected to be mirrored by other companies facing rising medical expenses.

— Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
In 1982, invading Israeli forces occupied the city, withdrawing three years later.

— Jane Arraf, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of withdrawing

Verb

Record-low water levels along the Danube River have exposed dozens of German military shipwrecks near the Serbian town of Prahovo, where an estimated 200 vessels were deliberately scuttled by retreating Nazi forces in 1944.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Surveillance video recovered by police showed the two men fighting in an alley and then Britt retreating from Fitzsimmons, according to the charging document.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of retreating

Verb

Some of that material condensed into tiny droplets called spherules, which spread around the planet before falling back through Earth's atmosphere at several miles per second.

— Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Fowler surged into the lead — briefly — at 11 under before falling back to the pack.

— CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Definition of falling back

Verb

Republican Jim Shaw injected humor into his remarks, pulling out a Florida flag while distancing himself from substance use.

— Joan Murray, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
But the timing of it is interesting, because that 2022 offseason has become a flashpoint in autopsies of Yzerman’s tenure, with some actually viewing it as an example of the general manager getting impatient and pulling out of the rebuild too soon.

— Max Bultman, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of pulling out

Verb

But first, dropping back from a low zone along the right sideline, Pettus snared a deep pass intended for Mack Hollins amid a crowd of players.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026
Downs is everywhere As expected, rookie defensive back Caleb Downs has been moved all over the field, mostly playing nickel cornerback but also dropping back to play deep safety.

— Jon Machota, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of dropping back

Verb

Former chief voices his support All of this played out as Kowalski was retiring from the department.

— Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Baresi is regarded as an AC Milan icon, having spent his entire 20-year career with the club, winning six Serie A titles and three top European trophies, and captaining the team for 15 seasons before retiring in 1997.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 31 July 2026

Definition of retiring

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backing

backing away

backing down

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“Backing away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backing%20away. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of backing away

verb

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