as in withdrew
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 backed away
Meanwhile, the image of Epstein being projected onto Windsor Castle is also uncomfortable for King Charles’ younger brother, Prince Andrew, who backed away from royal life after his connection with Epstein was scrutinized.
—
Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
But some have since backed away, discouraged by long product development cycles and inflated early valuations.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
Potter was an offensive tackle for Boise State from 2007 to 2011, under head coach Chris Petersen and mainly for OC Bryan Harsin, who never backed away from being tricky.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 Sep. 2025
And Bahrain and the UAE – the two Gulf Arab states with diplomatic relations with Israel – have not backed away from their official relationship.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Once Kefalos backed away, her dog put herself under the bed and started running around again.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Trump backed away from sanctions, preferring low-level talks in Istanbul which went nowhere.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
But some have since backed away, discouraged by long product development cycles and inflated early valuations.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2025
Potter was an offensive tackle for Boise State from 2007 to 2011, under head coach Chris Petersen and mainly for OC Bryan Harsin, who never backed away from being tricky.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 16 Sep. 2025
And Bahrain and the UAE – the two Gulf Arab states with diplomatic relations with Israel – have not backed away from their official relationship.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Once Kefalos backed away, her dog put herself under the bed and started running around again.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Trump backed away from sanctions, preferring low-level talks in Istanbul which went nowhere.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed away
Verb
-
The shake-up came a week after the Ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas withdrew from the coalition in protest over the failure to pass legislation exempting Haredi men from military service.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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The Times/Siena poll suggested that if both Adams and Sliwa withdrew, Mamdani’s advantage over Cuomo could shrink even further.—
Philip Marcelo,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One deputy retreated while two of them fired their guns, hitting Williams and Lane, authorities said.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Each apartment was different from the next, and the vacant unit (one daughter retreated to a Greek island) had views of the sea.—
Keith Flanagan,
Architectural Digest,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By that time, Hartman had retired from the movie industry.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Sep. 2025
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But reliever Juan Mejia retired the next three hitters — a Laureano strikeout sandwiched between flyouts from Sheets and Merrill — to squash the first semblance of a rally.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Philadelphia hasn’t clinched yet, but the division is out of reach after the Mets dropped back-to-back games at Citizens Bank Park.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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Denver’s late fourth-quarter play-call was the most obvious head-scratcher of any decision against the Titans, as Nix dropped back and fired off an incomplete go-ball to Marvin Mims on a fourth-and-eight with a minute left.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the wake of restructuring, people may feel like the rug has been pulled out from under them.—
Christopher Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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His teammate with both the French national team and Washington, Alex Sarr, pulled out of EuroBasket due to a calf injury.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backed away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20away. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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