as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
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Recent Examples of back away
Firefighters arrived several minutes after the blaze began, but backed away after a few protesters blocked their truck from reaching the loading dock.
—
Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
In some cases, extra vigilance means that faculty have backed away from initial commitments.
—Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 30 Jan. 2026
Four more followed, and the agents appeared to back away before firing additional shots toward Pretti.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2026
Protesters moved closer to the site’s perimeter before officers ordered the crowd to back away and deployed pepper balls, according to video footage and eyewitness accounts.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back away
Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
In some cases, extra vigilance means that faculty have backed away from initial commitments.
—Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 30 Jan. 2026
Four more followed, and the agents appeared to back away before firing additional shots toward Pretti.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2026
Protesters moved closer to the site’s perimeter before officers ordered the crowd to back away and deployed pepper balls, according to video footage and eyewitness accounts.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back away
Verb
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However, that petition was later withdrawn in 2025, the complaint said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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Illinois lawmakers recently flirted with a tax on unrealized gains—think of stocks yet to be sold at fluctuating prices that only exist on paper—before retreating.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
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Jackson was disinvited from the Grammy Awards telecast the following week and largely retreated from the public spotlight, while Timberlake’s career continued uninterrupted.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These two teams have been Super Bowl contenders for years thanks to MVP-winning quarterbacks, though both have fallen back a bit (especially Baltimore).—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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When does 2026 daylight saving time spring forward start, DST fall back end?—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 2018, Guthrie celebrated the fact that her brother had retired from military flying and had taken his final flight as an F-16 pilot.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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On the supply side, Baby Boomers are aging and retiring, population growth has slowed, and there’s been a sharp reduction in immigration and an increase in deportations.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sunday will bring a lot of sunshine, but the temperature will reach only about 17 degrees before dropping back into the single digits Sunday night.—
Jack Perry,
The Providence Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
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Gold’s price rallied near $5,600 per ounce in the morning before suddenly and briefly dropping back below $5,200.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20away. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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