as in retreats
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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
Willow begins to whimper, and backs away from the door—but sits promptly down, still staring at it.
—
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
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
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs away
Verb
-
With Istredd’s sacrifice on the other side of the portal complete, Yennefer’s army teleports behind Vilgefortz, and with the advantage lost, the mage retreats to fight another day.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Now living in Senegal, West Africa, Cope hosts retreats and supports her husband in building a regenerative farm.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Musk withdraws the California suit in June, then files a federal suit in August.—
Nikita Ostrovsky,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
-
If a parent later withdraws permission, the app developer must be notified to disable access.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The pump should turn off after the water level drops back down.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
When fired for real in the film, the first intercepting missile malfunctions and falls back to earth.—
Griff Griffin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Longs should use that as their downside protection level, if GM falls back into the gap things get murky.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Michael Fiddelke, the company’s chief operating officer and former chief financial officer who has spent two decades at the company, will start as Target’s CEO in February as Brian Cornell retires.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Five candidates seek Tennessee Supreme Court seat Five candidates have applied to fill the vacancy on Tennessee’s Supreme Court that will be created when Justice Holly Kirby retires on June 30, the Administrative Office of the Courts announced this week.—
Vivian Jones,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backs away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs%20away. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share