as in to backtrack
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Recent Examples of backpedal
Many of the worst culprits on this issue are backpedaling fast.
—
Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
To make matters worse, the boss frequently would backpedal into the blind spot of whichever camera was attempting to show the action.
—David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro was backpedaling when the puck hopped over his stick and continued right into Robertson’s path for a clean look on Merzlikins.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Amid the purge, the Trump administration laid off more than 300 probationary NNSA employees, only to backpedal and bring almost all of them back days later.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
To make matters worse, the boss frequently would backpedal into the blind spot of whichever camera was attempting to show the action.
—David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro was backpedaling when the puck hopped over his stick and continued right into Robertson’s path for a clean look on Merzlikins.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Amid the purge, the Trump administration laid off more than 300 probationary NNSA employees, only to backpedal and bring almost all of them back days later.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedal
Verb
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is under pressure after signing a bill that would strip independence from anti-corruption agencies, drawing widespread protests for the first time since the Russian invasion in 2022 — before appearing to backtrack on the law Thursday.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
28 July 2025
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But in the aftermath of the catastrophic and deadly floods in Texas, the White House is now backtracking by hinting that the federal emergency management agency should be overhauled.—
Rick Pozniak,
Boston Herald,
20 July 2025
Verb
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The doors also retract to create a sense of indoor/outdoor living.—
Natalia Senanayake,
People.com,
21 July 2025
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Louisville Metro Police officials retracted a statement made July 14 about the cause of an evacuation of the Kentucky Exposition Center, where officers were dispatched July 13 on multiple reports of an active shooter.—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Soudani’s sister and son recanted their statements to the local police about Mr. Soudani’s whereabouts on the night of Helen Soudani’s murder in 1977.—
Christopher Maag,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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During the trial, several witnesses recanted prior statements, alleging threatening, intimidating and coercive efforts by Foster and Brian Forberg, the two detectives assigned to the case.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedal. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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