BACKED OFF Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

backed off

verb

past tense of back off

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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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 backed off Cinema United, the movie theater trade organization, once vociferously opposed to the merger, backed off Tuesday and called for a settlement to avoid industry uncertainty. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 The Los Angeles district attorney has backed off felony charges against a police officer who secretly recorded his colleagues making racist remarks after facing criticism the response was too harsh and could deter whistleblowers from coming forward. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 Cunningham has not backed off her stance despite the criticism. — S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 By midmorning, as investors digested all of this data, bond traders backed off from betting that the Fed would hike rates this year. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026 County and state officials have backed off immediate intervention after finding LAUSD technically compliant with a budget deadline. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 But a New York Times report published Tuesday shows one of the most prominent GOP donors has quietly backed off. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 The officers backed off after firing and could see McAlpin was still moving inside the vehicle. — Harry Harris, Mercury News, 17 July 2026 The Dolphins’ starting inside linebacker never backed off that claim, and never apologized for it either. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed off

Verb

Not wanting to risk a claw to the face, the officers backed out and reassessed the situation.

— Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026
The championship caps a year that began with London’s High Court ordering Palou to pay McLaren Racing more than $12 million in a breach of contract suit the team filed when the Spaniard backed out of two different deals with the racing team.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of backed out

Verb

The Brawling Birds, Alex Windsor and Jamie Hayter, have been two women who have not backed down from challenging Bayne and Kross.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The club backed down, increasing prices by three per cent for this season and introducing a price freeze for the 2027-28 campaign.

— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of backed down

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backed down

backed off

backed out

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“Backed off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20off. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of backed off

verb

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