Synonyms of falling back

falling back

verb

present participle of fall back

as in retreating

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retreating
• withdrawing
• pulling out
• dropping back
• backing away
• giving way
• losing ground
• retiring
• giving ground
• receding
• fleeing
• evacuating
• flying
• pulling away
• climbing down
• backing down
• bowing out
• leaving
• shrinking
• flinching
• recoiling
• chickening (out)
• detaching
• departing
• going
• backtracking
• abandoning
• disengaging
• disentangling
• vacating
• backpedaling
• quitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advancing
• facing
• confronting
• daring
• defying
• braving
• brazening
• breasting
• outbraving
• bearding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of falling back

Now, the murder rate is falling back in line with other crime trends, many of which are also among the lowest ever recorded. — James Tuttle, The Conversation, 9 July 2026

But now Swift is falling back to Earth on a trajectory at an increasing rate and will burn up in our atmosphere soon, if nothing is done. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 26 June 2026

SpaceX posted huge gains after a record-breaking IPO on June 12, briefly surpassing Amazon and Microsoft in market capitalization, before falling back below both as sentiment cooled. — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 23 June 2026

And long-term oil prices, which is the biggest influence on the price of gas, don’t show signs of falling back below the pre-war $70 a barrel level any time before the next decade. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 18 June 2026

Goldberg said as the audience cheered over the news, eventually falling back in her chair in shock. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026

That’s because of a myriad of actions, including countries falling back on their emergency oil reserves. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 2026

As with prior election denial efforts, MAGA is hanging their red hat on the fact that their candidate seemed to be doing better earlier on before falling back as votes continued to be counted. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026

Chuck reveled in calling himself the mayor of the townsite, including its numerous log cabins, all in various states of falling back to the earth. — Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 3 June 2026