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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of backing off
Malik’s boss is not happy that Malik doesn’t have a grip on the Crane brothers, though Malik assures him that Amos frightened Sarah into backing off — and that Dinah is tucked away at a safe house.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Benioff clarified his National Guard comments in subsequent days leading up to Dreamforce, without backing off his long-running concerns over public safety.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
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
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Benioff clarified his National Guard comments in subsequent days leading up to Dreamforce, without backing off his long-running concerns over public safety.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
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
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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Democrats are doubling down that Republicans are the ones to blame for federal workers’ pain, arguing that backing down and voting for the GOP continuing resolution will likely come back to haunt them.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Oct. 2025
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The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is not backing down in its fight against National Public Radio.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backing off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backing%20off. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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