as in retreats
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
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Recent Examples of backs away
Finally, the board will have the good sense to just snap their host laptop shut, but not before a wickedly riotous 10 minutes or so in which absolutely no one backs away from the keyboard.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
At first, the bison ignores him, but eventually approaches the man, who quickly backs away to keep a safe distance.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
At first, the bison ignores him, but eventually approaches the man, who quickly backs away to keep a safe distance.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs away
Verb
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Wilks retreats to the front of his vehicle before briefly emerging and the officer then lets off a second round of gunfire.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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This allows Kerkez to operate higher up the pitch, while Szoboszlai retreats to give Konate a passing option.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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No one wins when the West withdraws in this manner.—
Aviva Klompas,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
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The proposal relies on these forces to handle security as the Israeli military gradually withdraws from Gaza.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The pump should turn off after the water level drops back down.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
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With Leverkusen’s front players focused on stopping progression into Gravenberch, Jones drops back to receive from Alexander-Arnold.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even if Showgirl falls back tonight and comes out in the high $20Ms (no one is expecting that number), so what?—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 Oct. 2025
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Visiting cargo spacecraft — historically Russia's Progress spacecraft — typically push the ISS higher from the Earth's orbit periodically, when the facility naturally falls back to the planet.—
Ruxandra Iordache,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Abderholden, 71, of Minneapolis, retires on Wednesday after 24 years as executive director of NAMI Minnesota.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
12 Oct. 2025
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An American who retires at 65 can expect to live roughly 20 more years, give or take, based on longevity data.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backs away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs%20away. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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