as in to back down
to break a promise or agreement
you'd better not back off on your promise to do all the planning for the big dance
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Recent Examples of back off
Walmart is just one of many companies that are controversially backing off on DEI initiatives in the wake of conservative backlash.
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Justin Klawans, The Week Us, theweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Eventually, some Democrats had to back off from their previous positions supporting it.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024
The cat starts hitting Chicken with his paws, lunging at his brother, who can be seen backing off before inciting more aggressive play once again.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
So the hunter backed off, hoping the buck would survive until the following season.
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for back off 
Justin Klawans, The Week Us, theweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Eventually, some Democrats had to back off from their previous positions supporting it.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024
The cat starts hitting Chicken with his paws, lunging at his brother, who can be seen backing off before inciting more aggressive play once again.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
So the hunter backed off, hoping the buck would survive until the following season.
—Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for back off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back off
Verb
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Within a few hours, Yoon had backed down, but the crisis wasn’t over, with calls for his resignation and impeachment growing.Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
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All signs point toward the Eagles here but Jordan Love won't back down.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The city is being urged to back out of the current project and adopt the conservancy’s design concept.Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2025
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Related Articles Buyer backs out of major Oakland property sale, delaying crucial budget salve The county supervisors unanimously established a 30-day timeline for new terms to be met over the sale of the 112-acre Coliseum Complex, which includes the stadium, arena and surrounding parking lots.Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 14 Jan. 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
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Cite this Entry
“Back off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20off. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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