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
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
Those detours foreshadowed Paris, where the styling again backs away from surface-level pink and redistributes it to the interior.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 8 Nov. 2025
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
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
Those detours foreshadowed Paris, where the styling again backs away from surface-level pink and redistributes it to the interior.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 8 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs away
Verb
-
When novelist Ohm Bauman (Scott) retreats to a remote inn in Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes, he is consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
3 May 2026
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As Siâvash increasingly retreats into imaginary characters, the documentary traces a sibling relationship shaped and strained by displacement, set against a backdrop of escalating tension between Iran and the United States that carries personal consequences for both subjects.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For example, if a Medicare Advantage plan withdraws from a market or leaves the Medicare program, its enrollees can qualify for a supplemental plan without being asked health questions or charged more for having preexisting conditions.—
Julie Appleby,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
University officials deactivated the group the same day they were notified, citing campus policies that allow suspension of student organizations when a parent or governing body withdraws recognition or when groups violate state law.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Behren Morton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drops back to pass during the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Oregon Ducks.—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
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If the opposing quarterback drops back to pass, Downs can be effective, as well.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The trajectory The mission is on a flight path that keeps the spacecraft in Earth's gravitational influence past the moon, then falls back to the planet for splashdown.—
Brendan Byrne,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
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Really, even if tracking is massively off, and Project Hail Mary falls back to a $50M opening in North America, va bene.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Superior Court judges, the ones who preside over criminal and civil trials at the county level, can stand for election if a seat is open, or they can be appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy if a judge retires.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Especially if Stafford is injured this season or retires in the next year or two.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backs away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs%20away. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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