backpedaled

verb

past tense of backpedal
as in backtracked

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedaled
  1. backtracked
  2. retracted
  3. recanted
Verb
  • Seconds later, Flore backtracked, called the foul on the floor, then backtracked his backtrack and reverted to his initial call.
    — CJ Moore, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Definition of backtracked
Verb
  • That's because the sink and invisible dual-burner induction cooktop are concealed below a sliding top that works just like a bar or table when retracted.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The study was found to be fraudulent; eventually, it was retracted entirely.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of retracted
Verb
  • This included expert witnesses who said the child’s death was an accidental drowning brought on by a seizure and a jailhouse informant who recanted his trial testimony that Duncan had confessed to the crime.
    — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • His conviction rested on circumstantial evidence and testimony from witnesses Myers’ lawyers said were unreliable, including one witness who later recanted his testimony.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of recanted
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.

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backpedal
backpedaled
backpedaling
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Cite this Entry

“Backpedaled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedaled. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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