FALLING BACK Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

falling back

verb

present participle of fall back

as in retreating

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back

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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 falling back That was his life for more than a decade — sometimes in work or a relationship but always falling back to addiction. — Kyung Lah, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 Arizona, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico are among the states and territories that don't follow this pattern of sprining forward and falling back. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 15 July 2026 Now, the murder rate is falling back in line with other crime trends, many of which are also among the lowest ever recorded. — James Tuttle, The Conversation, 9 July 2026 But now Swift is falling back to Earth on a trajectory at an increasing rate and will burn up in our atmosphere soon, if nothing is done. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 26 June 2026 SpaceX posted huge gains after a record-breaking IPO on June 12, briefly surpassing Amazon and Microsoft in market capitalization, before falling back below both as sentiment cooled. — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 23 June 2026 Goldberg said as the audience cheered over the news, eventually falling back in her chair in shock. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026 That’s because of a myriad of actions, including countries falling back on their emergency oil reserves. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 2026 As with prior election denial efforts, MAGA is hanging their red hat on the fact that their candidate seemed to be doing better earlier on before falling back as votes continued to be counted. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for falling back

Verb

But Americans want to know that colleges are responding with urgency to the crisis in our public life, not retreating from it.

— Rajiv Vinnakota, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
In the second World Cup semifinal, England struck first, taking a 1-0 lead early in the second half and then retreating into a defensive shell.

— David Hickey, NBC news, 16 July 2026

Definition of retreating

Verb

After intervening in 1976 under President Hafez al-Assad, Syria’s military remained in Lebanon for 29 years, finally withdrawing in 2005 under Hafez’s son and successor Bashar.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Cordes and Haake are keen and tense, their hands raised, but Hasnie has relaxed, withdrawing briefly into her thoughts.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026

Definition of withdrawing

Verb

But the timing of it is interesting, because that 2022 offseason has become a flashpoint in autopsies of Yzerman’s tenure, with some actually viewing it as an example of the general manager getting impatient and pulling out of the rebuild too soon.

— Max Bultman, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Kramer agreed, crediting facility partners at Sporting Kansas City, the KC Current, the University of Kansas and the $20-million Swope Soccer Village for pulling out the stops to attract the world’s best teams.

— Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Definition of pulling out

Verb

Del Toro looked in trouble approaching the summit of the Col du Galibier, the race’s highest point, urgently speaking into his radio and dropping back.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 July 2026
With both blockades fueling fears over global energy supplies, the price of international benchmark Brent crude oil jumped above the $100 a barrel threshold Thursday for the first time since May before dropping back down.

— Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 24 July 2026

Definition of dropping back

Verb

And yet, for the first time in more than a century, the United States is not backing away.

— Kevin Sieff, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Zoom isn’t backing away from traditional commercials, says Storin, but sees a need to shift to new tactics as digitally-savvy consumers discover services, products and brands in different ways.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 21 July 2026

Definition of backing away

Verb

Former chief voices his support All of this played out as Kowalski was retiring from the department.

— Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Baresi is regarded as an AC Milan icon, having spent his entire 20-year career with the club, winning six Serie A titles and three top European trophies, and captaining the team for 15 seasons before retiring in 1997.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 31 July 2026

Definition of retiring

Browse Nearby Words

falling away

falling back

falling back on

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“Falling back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falling%20back. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of falling back

verb

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