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

Another is an integration with the PubPeer database, which allows users to check whether references in a manuscript have received previous PubPeer comments or have been retracted—both of which can indicate quality or integrity issues.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
Mas’ud confessed to building the bomb used in the attack, but later retracted the claim and alleged that he was forced to confess, according to the BBC.

— Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026

Definition of retracted

Verb

The witnesses previously recanted, and Wednesday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott offered an apology.

— Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of recanted

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backpedaled

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“Backpedaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedaled. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of backpedaled

verb

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