as in to back out
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of back down
Akademiks, never one to back down from controversy, swiftly clapped back on social media with a provocative tweet that many perceived as both dismissive and disrespectful.
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Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 29 May 2025
Block offers temporary relief, creates more chaos However, while markets perked up following the ruling, there is likely to be little long-term relief, as nobody expects Trump to back down from his tariff tactics.
—Ashley Belanger – May 29, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2025
However, in Minnesota’s Game 3 blowout, Edwards’ attempts were down at 17 and then back down to 13 for Game 4.
—Matias Grez, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
Mahan has refused to back down, maintaining that making difficult decisions is necessary to steer San Jose in the right direction.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 29 May 2025
Block offers temporary relief, creates more chaos However, while markets perked up following the ruling, there is likely to be little long-term relief, as nobody expects Trump to back down from his tariff tactics.
—Ashley Belanger – May 29, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2025
However, in Minnesota’s Game 3 blowout, Edwards’ attempts were down at 17 and then back down to 13 for Game 4.
—Matias Grez, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
Mahan has refused to back down, maintaining that making difficult decisions is necessary to steer San Jose in the right direction.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for back down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back down
Verb
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With seven seconds left on the clock, Haliburton took the ball the full length of the floor, crossed-over Mikal Bridges, then met Mitchell Robinson in the paint before retreating back out to the top of the key and heaving a shot from downtown.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
22 May 2025
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And that could mean reaching back out to free agent reliever David Robertson, after it was reported the Phillies already contacted him about a possible reunion.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 May 2025
Verb
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The visit on Thursday is critical for Merz to try on behalf of the 27-member bloc to convince Trump to back off the 50 percent tariffs.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
5 June 2025
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Some Republicans are inclined to agree with a Wall Street Journal editorial arguing that the proposal can succeed — if other countries back off a global tax framework and avoid retaliatory taxes.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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About 20 minutes later, the two cops out in front were joined by a third officer.—
Melody Chiu,
People.com,
7 Jan. 2025
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The judges avoid giving critiques to the girls this week but do talk among one another, which is kind of weird but also means that nobody gets to cop out of Rate-a-Queen and just imitate the judges.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that salmonella causes about 420 deaths annually in the U.S. A photo of the affected product in the Williams Farms Repack LLC recall.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
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Reports of wood inside Dinty Moore Beef Stew led to Hormel Foods recalling the product Wednesday.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20down. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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