as in to backtrack
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Recent Examples of backpedal
Many will dismiss Trump’s moves, even the DHS investigation, as backpedaling to shore up poll numbers.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
Facing pressure from New England, Jarrett Stidham was backpedaling on third down and tried to throw a chest pass.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 25 Jan. 2026
By Monday, the Trump administration was backpedaling.
—John McCormack, Washington Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Quarterback Bo Nix, in a sight much too frequent in the 19-3 win, was left to backpedal for his life and loft a duck of an incompletion.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
Facing pressure from New England, Jarrett Stidham was backpedaling on third down and tried to throw a chest pass.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 25 Jan. 2026
By Monday, the Trump administration was backpedaling.
—John McCormack, Washington Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Quarterback Bo Nix, in a sight much too frequent in the 19-3 win, was left to backpedal for his life and loft a duck of an incompletion.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedal
Verb
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However, Melton appeared to backtrack just a bit.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
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When the agency seemed to backtrack, later proposing a purely functional bridge with no design flourishes as an option, city officials sued.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Additionally, the original research study that supported the movement was retracted.—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
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The report was retracted in a separate tweet, but that didn’t stop the internet, which never sleeps.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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However, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office ultimately dropped charges against Santana after the 17-year-old accuser recanted his statements to prosecutors, television interviewers and on social media, according to court records.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
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The conviction turned largely on eyewitness testimony that has since been recanted and scientific evidence that has since been debunked.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedal. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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