as in to back out
to break a promise or agreement
if you back down about dinner again, I'm not going to agree to another date
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back down
Usually, there’s one day where tides are the highest, and tides slowly build up — and then back down — from that peak.
—
Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
However, Biden’s son refused to back down.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 9 Sep. 2025
For years, Hollow Knight fans have been trapped in their own cage, waiting for release, lunging at every scrap of news only to be dashed back down.
—Keller Gordon, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
But, after Landman and Fiske got the ball back, McVay didn’t back down.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
However, Biden’s son refused to back down.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 9 Sep. 2025
For years, Hollow Knight fans have been trapped in their own cage, waiting for release, lunging at every scrap of news only to be dashed back down.
—Keller Gordon, NPR, 8 Sep. 2025
But, after Landman and Fiske got the ball back, McVay didn’t back down.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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Or maybe sign Cameron Latu off the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad (Barrows slowly backs out of the room).—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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The industry chews people up and spits them (and their dreams) right back out.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trump threatened earlier this year to fire Powell, but eventually backed off after his advisers warned him that doing so could spark extreme volatility in financial markets, CNN previously reported.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
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Continue reading … STEPPING IN – GOP senator warns White House to back off after Ukrainian refugee murder.—
,
FOXNews.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On Thursday, there were 652 officers on the force, with nearly 100 cops out on some kind of administrative or medical leave.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Aug. 2025
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But with that brief wave of hope came new footage on Twitter every night of the NYPD acting like bad cops out of a Harvey Keitel flick: cops harassing peaceful crowds, cops kettling activists, cops literally driving a car into a crowd of protestors.—
Maris Kreizman,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Thousands of multivitamin bottles sold on Amazon and other websites have been recalled over a risk of serious injury or death by poisoning.—
Joel Thayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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After a goalless draw with Sunderland on Saturday, the Crystal Palace manager recalled a conversation with chairman Steve Parish, who had told him that over the years, impatience with new signings has increased.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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