as in withdrew
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell back
Verb
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China has invested little in Russia’s economy, and nowhere near the amount that the West withdrew after Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.—
Alan Cullison,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026 -
After the candidates’ names were leaked to WBEZ/Sun-Times and Chalkbeat, the process effectively ground to a halt and one of them withdrew his name.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Aljorna and Sosa-Celis retreated into their upstairs apartment and barricaded the door, so federal officers used tear gas to try to force the men out, the FBI agent said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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An impartial onlooker could even reasonably conclude that Trevor took one glance at his opposition and retreated to the safety of a forward-facing position.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Presburger, who retired last Friday after 35 years of teaching at El Camino Real High, brought about 15,000 pins to Italy for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, requiring three hefty suitcases.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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Kovach's appointment as the city's new fire chief comes following the retirement of former chief Jeffrey Tomovcsik, who served as a McKeesport firefighter for more than 20 years and retired late last year.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On third down, Maye dropped back to pass, felt pressure and scrambled up the middle for 16 yards.—
February 9,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Late in the third quarter, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye dropped back to pass, looking for answers.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Guthrie pulled out of covering the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina for NBC, with the opening ceremony commentators acknowledging her absence on Friday.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Feb. 2026
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People have tried using machines, but the cold turns oil to sludge, and when machines fall through ice, they can’t be pulled out.—
Ken Harbaugh,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fell back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell%20back. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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