as in backed off
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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Recent Examples of backed down
Google appears to have backed down in its AI dispute with Disney.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The administration has eased its tone and admitted mistakes in its immigration enforcement campaign since Pretti’s killing, but hasn’t backed down completely or paused operations in Minneapolis, as critics demanded.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And Zelensky just hasn’t backed down, and Zelensky’s had the temerity to take him on, on a number of occasions, to push back.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Twelves hooked up to a hydrant, and Alves grabbed a chainsaw off the rig to trim some of the trees along the houses as the fire backed down the hill toward them.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Israel was reluctant to agree to a UN mandate for the international force but backed down under US pressure, according to a senior Israeli official.
—Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
And more than anything, more than the animosity between the programs, more than the College Football Playoff impact, more than Notre Dame puffing its chest out as USC backed down, that familiarity was the real higher power at work.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
In each case, leaders backed down after neighbors objected.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
The administration has eased its tone and admitted mistakes in its immigration enforcement campaign since Pretti’s killing, but hasn’t backed down completely or paused operations in Minneapolis, as critics demanded.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
And Zelensky just hasn’t backed down, and Zelensky’s had the temerity to take him on, on a number of occasions, to push back.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Twelves hooked up to a hydrant, and Alves grabbed a chainsaw off the rig to trim some of the trees along the houses as the fire backed down the hill toward them.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Israel was reluctant to agree to a UN mandate for the international force but backed down under US pressure, according to a senior Israeli official.
—Eugenia Yosef, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
And more than anything, more than the animosity between the programs, more than the College Football Playoff impact, more than Notre Dame puffing its chest out as USC backed down, that familiarity was the real higher power at work.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The administration only backed down after both Democrats and Republicans criticized the move.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
In each case, leaders backed down after neighbors objected.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed down
Verb
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The Boston Celtics also retreated with their interest, while the Timberwolves, after showing a willingness to offer two second-round picks for Ellis, backed off as their Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit ramped up and became the priority.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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But the president backed off after appeals from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and tech executives, including Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO whose family name is attached to the Oakland children’s hospital.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In Oklahoma City, after several protests and a packed city council meeting, a company that had planned to sell its warehouse to ICE backed out of the deal – a move cheered by Republican Mayor David Holt.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
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Some buyers have also backed out of sales.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20down. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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