as in backing out
to break a promise or agreement
if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backing down
Moore's campaign is not backing down and continues to air the commercials on Fox News and Facebook.
—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
His critics by now should have realized Aguirre, the survivor, the dreamer, the savior, the fighter, isn’t about to start backing down.
—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon isn’t backing down from her opinion that a short guard can’t lead a team to an NBA title, even after what Jalen Brunson did Monday night.
—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Several families have filed lawsuits against the Eastlands, who for months forged ahead with plans to reopen before ultimately backing down.
—
Jim Vertuno,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
But Healey is not backing down from DeMore’s nomination ahead of the Governor’s Council vote this Wednesday.
—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
19 May 2026
And today, the Cuban government is surging hundreds of thousands of people right past its front door with a clear message -- the Cuban government is not backing down.
—
ABC News,
3 May 2026
When Mamdani’s predecessor Eric Adams proposed simply letting schools’ funding shrink along with enrollment, he was sued, protested against, and, eventually, bullied into backing down.
—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
And similar to 23 years ago, these Pistons don’t plan on backing down either.
—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
His critics by now should have realized Aguirre, the survivor, the dreamer, the savior, the fighter, isn’t about to start backing down.
—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon isn’t backing down from her opinion that a short guard can’t lead a team to an NBA title, even after what Jalen Brunson did Monday night.
—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Several families have filed lawsuits against the Eastlands, who for months forged ahead with plans to reopen before ultimately backing down.
—
Jim Vertuno,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
But Healey is not backing down from DeMore’s nomination ahead of the Governor’s Council vote this Wednesday.
—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
19 May 2026
And today, the Cuban government is surging hundreds of thousands of people right past its front door with a clear message -- the Cuban government is not backing down.
—
ABC News,
3 May 2026
When Mamdani’s predecessor Eric Adams proposed simply letting schools’ funding shrink along with enrollment, he was sued, protested against, and, eventually, bullied into backing down.
—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
And similar to 23 years ago, these Pistons don’t plan on backing down either.
—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing down
Verb
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Sources said a different Big 12 team, TCU, was the initial target before backing out of what essentially is a home game for the Aztecs.
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Hazel was chasing a stream of water down the street while her father was pressure washing their driveway outside when she was hit by a car backing out of a nearby driveway, her parents told KPCQ.
Verb
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers last week that the DOJ would be backing off of the fund, amid bipartisan opposition to the idea.
-
But ongoing discussions Friday suggested federal officials may be backing off some of the stricter monitoring proposals.
Cite this Entry
“Backing down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backing%20down. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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