as in backed off
to break a promise or agreement
she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backed out
But in August 2022, Centene abruptly backed out of the investment.
—
Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
When Singleton backed out of the draft, Stockton reached out.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The board’s decision to rename the center was followed by an exodus of artists who backed out of events, including Philip Glass and Renee Fleming.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
The school allegedly backed out of the lease.
—Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
The Raiders-Ravens deal for Maxx Crosby was the rare blockbuster that somehow became a boomerang after Baltimore backed out with medical concerns.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Zohran Mamdani has reportedly backed out of a CBS Sunday Morning interview thanks to Bari Weiss’s Twitter.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
But Viacom backed out of the deal.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
In the late 1990s, SoftBank almost bought a 30% stake in Amazon for $100 million but backed out as Jeff Bezos believed his company was worth 16% more than Son’s valuation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
When Singleton backed out of the draft, Stockton reached out.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The board’s decision to rename the center was followed by an exodus of artists who backed out of events, including Philip Glass and Renee Fleming.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
The school allegedly backed out of the lease.
—Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
The Raiders-Ravens deal for Maxx Crosby was the rare blockbuster that somehow became a boomerang after Baltimore backed out with medical concerns.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Zohran Mamdani has reportedly backed out of a CBS Sunday Morning interview thanks to Bari Weiss’s Twitter.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
But Viacom backed out of the deal.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
In the late 1990s, SoftBank almost bought a 30% stake in Amazon for $100 million but backed out as Jeff Bezos believed his company was worth 16% more than Son’s valuation.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backed out
Verb
-
The Ravens took a swing in the trade market, but backed off on an acquisition that would have brought star pass rusher Maxx Crosby for two first-round draft picks.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And some have backed off from a legal fight altogether and sold their refund rights to investment firms, often at a deep discount, figuring that getting something is better than risk getting nothing.—
Alison Graham Larson,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Alexandria, for instance, councilors recently tried to raise utility costs 60% to fund a clean water project, but after dozens of residents packed a city council meeting to complain, leaders backed down.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Getting backed down by Dončić was only one piece of an embarrassing bloodbath for the Bulls that highlighted every facet of this team’s defensive deficiencies.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backed out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backed%20out. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
