BACKPEDALED Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

backpedaled

verb

past tense of backpedal

as in backtracked

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedaled

Verb

Seconds later, Flore backtracked, called the foul on the floor, then backtracked his backtrack and reverted to his initial call.

— CJ Moore, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026

Definition of backtracked

Verb

But as post-WWII agriculture shifted toward chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and heavy machinery, the need for kudzu decreased rapidly, and the federal government retracted its support for the crop.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026
Drivers should remain stopped until the arm is retracted and the bus begins moving again.

— Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of retracted

Verb

His conviction rested on circumstantial evidence and testimony from witnesses Myers’ lawyers said were unreliable, including one witness who later recanted his testimony.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Over the years, questions about the evidence against Smith emerged as a witness recanted, Lowden repudiated his earlier statement implicating Smith, and another man claimed responsibility for Hart's killing.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of recanted

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backpedal

backpedaled

backpedaling

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“Backpedaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedaled. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of backpedaled

verb

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