as in backing off
to break a promise or agreement
she backed out on her offer to help with the wedding planning
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Recent Examples of backing out
The Florida and Texas metros with the highest share of stale listings are all solid buyer’s markets, where buyers have the upper hand over sellers and can negotiate lower prices as well as backing out of unfavorable deals.
—
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Buyers are also increasingly backing out of deals, rather than settling for homes that may not be the perfect fit.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Lost my respect by backing out.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In America, a property owner backing out of a location agreement can lead to legal action and is rare.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
After backing out of Monday's Dawson's Creek cast reunion in New York City due to illness, James Van Der Beek still made a surprise appearance at the event in a sweet video message for attendees and his fellow cast members.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
This could either result in investors backing out of purchasing the debt, or demanding higher interest payments to offset the risk.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
When backing out the federal business, the rest of world security order growth increased by double digits in the fourth quarter.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Buyers are also increasingly backing out of deals, rather than settling for homes that may not be the perfect fit.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Lost my respect by backing out.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In America, a property owner backing out of a location agreement can lead to legal action and is rare.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
After backing out of Monday's Dawson's Creek cast reunion in New York City due to illness, James Van Der Beek still made a surprise appearance at the event in a sweet video message for attendees and his fellow cast members.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
This could either result in investors backing out of purchasing the debt, or demanding higher interest payments to offset the risk.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
When backing out the federal business, the rest of world security order growth increased by double digits in the fourth quarter.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backing out
Verb
-
Tonevich started backing off, pulling his stun gun.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Treasury yields and the dollar retreated, with traders backing off some of their more hawkish Federal Reserve bets, pricing in a few basis points worth of easing this year.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tehran shows no signs of backing down.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Iran, meanwhile, gave no signs of backing down.—
David Rising,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backing out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backing%20out. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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