backpedaled

verb

past tense of backpedal
as in backtracked

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedaled
  1. backtracked
  2. retracted
  3. recanted
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
  • Over the weekend, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a positive lettuce test, then retracted it a day later as a false positive.
    — Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Anthony Volpe had to defend his character after the team’s play-by-play man, Michael Kay, retracted unfounded claims about the shortdtop’s unwillingness to play second base.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 July 2026
Definition of retracted
Verb
  • In addition, investigators working for Duncan’s legal team interviewed a jailhouse informant who recanted his earlier trial testimony that Duncan had confessed to the crime.
    — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 29 June 2026
  • At least three people were arrested and police said at least four others have recanted.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
Definition of recanted
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Backpedaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedaled. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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