as in to back down
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 back off
The administration backed off its most extreme plans.
—
Matt Peterson, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
The Internal Revenue Service backed off audits of partnerships, while the White House ordered agencies to open up retirement plans to private equity and credit.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
After the interview, another guard arrived to lead the way back off to the barren, freezing parking lot in Queens.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Musk quickly backed off his threat, and missions continued.
—Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back off
Matt Peterson, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
The Internal Revenue Service backed off audits of partnerships, while the White House ordered agencies to open up retirement plans to private equity and credit.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
After the interview, another guard arrived to lead the way back off to the barren, freezing parking lot in Queens.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Musk quickly backed off his threat, and missions continued.
—Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back off
Verb
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Storm glided back down the ramp and got into the face of Rousey.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
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Made in equal parts as creator Hugo Ensslin originally conceived it, the Green Chartreuse utterly dominates the experience, but back down the liqueur and boost the other two ingredients a touch, and the Tipperary is a bold but charming drink.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The officer ends up with a concussion and a head injury, and the person has the potential to go right back out in the community the next day.—
Sarah Horbacewicz,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Dylan Redford and Harrison Fishman are heading back out to uncover more neighborly disputes.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To say these machines are too expense is a cop out.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
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Rather than throwing those bad cops out of the union and asking for better training so cops will never have to ask what to do when a fellow cop appears to have broken the law, Hendry encourages them.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Back off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20off. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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