as in backed out
to break a promise or agreement
you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance
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Recent Examples of backed off
After Torrance police backed off, the suspect drove into a gas station and parked.
—
Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
The younger man backed off and Lacaille drove away.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
Hialeah eventually backed off of the effort.
—Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
And some have backed off from a legal fight altogether and sold their refund rights to investment firms, often at a deep discount, figuring that getting something is better than risk getting nothing.
—Alison Graham Larson, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Less than a month later, TSA committed to boost staffing, and Southwell backed off his threat.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
In each instance, officials backed off after residents objected.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
Some left-wing groups have backed off their insistence on filibuster elimination, at least for now.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Discouraged, Bennett and Shad backed off a bit and watched the fish return to the same position, giving Bennett enough time to calm down and re-rig with the same lure.
—Kubie Brown, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2026
Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
The younger man backed off and Lacaille drove away.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
Hialeah eventually backed off of the effort.
—Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
And some have backed off from a legal fight altogether and sold their refund rights to investment firms, often at a deep discount, figuring that getting something is better than risk getting nothing.
—Alison Graham Larson, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Less than a month later, TSA committed to boost staffing, and Southwell backed off his threat.
—Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
In each instance, officials backed off after residents objected.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026
Some left-wing groups have backed off their insistence on filibuster elimination, at least for now.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Discouraged, Bennett and Shad backed off a bit and watched the fish return to the same position, giving Bennett enough time to calm down and re-rig with the same lure.
—Kubie Brown, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed off
Verb
-
But the seller backed out of the deal.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
So after winning a chance to spend $560 for individual tickets in a FIFA lottery last fall, Levinson backed out.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But so far, the Justice Department has not backed down.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The state backed down after the outcry.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20off. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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