as in to backtrack
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Recent Examples of backpedal
Heartbroken at Bonnaroo: Artists, fans react to abrupt cancellation, 'this was gonna be a special one'
The festival later backpedaled and offered a 100% refund.
—
Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
In 2025, companies that once made public commitments to racial justice are staying quiet—or backpedaling.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
Patrick Mahomes backpedaled from the 10-yard line to maybe the 15, searching for an option before his eyes darted to the middle of the field.
—Sam McDowell 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2025
Companies are investing heavily in automation, Goucher says, but companies are sometimes forced to backpedal.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
In 2025, companies that once made public commitments to racial justice are staying quiet—or backpedaling.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
Patrick Mahomes backpedaled from the 10-yard line to maybe the 15, searching for an option before his eyes darted to the middle of the field.
—Sam McDowell 6, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2025
Companies are investing heavily in automation, Goucher says, but companies are sometimes forced to backpedal.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedal
Verb
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Since the 2024 election, a lot of high-profile Democrats, even [California] Governor [Gavin] Newsom, have seemed to backtrack a bit or even come out a little bit against going too far with transgender rights.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
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Earlier this year, Iger backtracked those comments and threw his support behind holding on to linear.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The prominent medical publisher BMJ Group has retracted a study that found apple cider vinegar could help people achieve dramatic weight loss.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
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Its active rear wing, for example, remains fully retracted when on a straightaway, reducing drag and maximizing acceleration.—
Stephen Treffinger,
Robb Report,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 1999, four suspects were arrested, with two suspects confessing but later recanting, police said.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
29 Sep. 2025
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Michael and Robert were convicted in 2001 and 2002, respectively, but the rulings were eventually overturned due to a lack of DNA evidence and controversial questioning by police, which led some of the young men to recant their statements.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedal. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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