as in to backtrack
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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 backpedal
In follow-up interviews, Grede has declined to backpedal.
—
Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Rather than attack the basket and either score or draw a foul, Bridges predictably chose the path of least resistance and pulled up for a fadeaway jumper with 1.4 seconds left before backpedaling into the Atlanta bench.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
But leaders shouldn’t backpedal on criminal justice reforms.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 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
Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Rather than attack the basket and either score or draw a foul, Bridges predictably chose the path of least resistance and pulled up for a fadeaway jumper with 1.4 seconds left before backpedaling into the Atlanta bench.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
But leaders shouldn’t backpedal on criminal justice reforms.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 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
-
Prolonged downtime could force him to backtrack in his progression.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
2 June 2026
-
Anthropic initially ruled out taking the region’s money on national security and moral grounds, only to backtrack.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
One of the few major studies that purported ChatGPT improved learning performance was retracted last month.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
10 June 2026
-
The farm retracted those statements five days later, but continued to dispute the cause of the outbreak and contest the agency’s findings.—
Annie Waldman,
ProPublica,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Others have recanted and said police coerced them into implicating Washington and Simms.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedal. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
