BACKS AWAY Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

backs away

verb

present tense third-person singular of back away

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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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 backs away It is headed straight toward another SUV, driven by a medic for CHOP security, who immediately throws it in reverse and backs away to avoid the white Jeep, which is coming at it head on. — Sydney Brownstone, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026 As the boy backs away, the family's husky mix, Bella, is seen running over from across the yard and chasing the bear away, circling behind the animal and placing itself in between the bear and the boy. — Mason Leib, ABC News, 7 July 2026 For nearly two agonizing minutes, the bear runs toward her then backs away, rearing up on its hind legs several times, revealing its massive size. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026 The team does an organized shuffle to get things in order, and almost everyone watching with me backs away slightly. — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 6 May 2026 Jones then slows down to a walk as Prignano backs away. — Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2026 In instances when an agent approaches, a patroller typically backs away while recording the interaction, video footage posted to Union del Barrio’s YouTube page shows. — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026 The officer in the black beanie backs away with his gun drawn, though pointed down. — Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026 Videos show an officer, who is hovering over the scuffle with his right hand on Pretti’s back, backs away from the group with what appears to be a gun in his right hand just before the first shot. — Hannah Fingerhut, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs away

Verb

The front retreats to the north, but chances of rain stick around into early Friday as the shortwave (small disturbance) pushes out of the area.

— Michael Autovino, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Havelock neither retreats to the closet nor holds out hope for resolution via vigilante justice.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of retreats

Verb

An Indian institution that’s built its operations around a foreign foundation model has no real recourse if that vendor raises prices, withdraws the model, hits new export restrictions or gets caught in a geopolitical dispute over chip access.

— Sajal Singh, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
The background of the film is the budget slashes that are happening in this sector all over the Western world, as the government withdraws its own form of care.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of withdraws

Verb

Szoboszlai has much better access to Yoane Wissa in the space that opens up as Gravenberch pushes forward and Wirtz drops back to cover (no doubt after a half-time reminder about the importance of covering the space).

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
After the front, the humidity drops back off the scale, meaning that Thursday and Friday will be very comfy and dry.

— Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 18 May 2026

Definition of drops back

Verb

Sometimes a player experiences a season in the sun and falls back to Earth, as Matt Kemp and Jacoby Ellsbury did in 2011.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
His footage reveals the movement of plasma within the loops, including 'coronal rain' as material cools and falls back towards the lower solar atmosphere along magnetic field lines.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of falls back

Verb

Fund debt paydown out of the same budget as new AI use cases so that every model that ships also retires a data-quality issue on its critical path.

— Gopichand Mannava, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Supporting the Sentinel transition The Grey Wolf will also help as the Air Force brings in the LGM-35A Sentinel and retires the Minuteman III facilities.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of retires

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backs

backs away

backs down

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“Backs away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs%20away. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of backs away

verb

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