as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
backed away from the snake very slowly and carefully
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Recent Examples of back away
After her eponymous talk show came to an end in 2022, DeGeneres largely backed away from the spotlight before recording her standup special in Los Angeles.
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Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
But officials have since backed away from those numbers.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
Seattle Public Schools is looking at closing five schools next year, backing away from an earlier plan that would have closed up to 21.
—Axios Seattle, Axios, 3 Oct. 2024
Others have backed away from more public displays of involvement.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for back away 
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
But officials have since backed away from those numbers.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
Seattle Public Schools is looking at closing five schools next year, backing away from an earlier plan that would have closed up to 21.
—Axios Seattle, Axios, 3 Oct. 2024
Others have backed away from more public displays of involvement.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for back away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back away
Verb
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Throughout the day Saturday, as the rebel forces were on the move, the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern Syria, leaving more areas of the country, including two provincial capitals, under the control of the rebels, according to the military and an opposition war monitor.Victoria Beaule, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024
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The military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn Yoon’s decree, forcing his Cabinet to lift it before daybreak Wednesday.Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The tech-heavy Nasdaq retreated from the 20,000 mark and shed 0.66%, while the broad market S&P 500 shed 0.54% .Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
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Biden retreated to Delaware to isolate and recover.Philip Elliott, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This is a role without precedent, for which judges are poorly equipped and apt to fall back on their ideological predilections.The Editors, National Review, 5 Dec. 2024
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The data shows the euro area economy fell back into contraction in November as business activity levels decreased at the fastest pace since January due to a decline in services output, S&P Global said.Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The two soon-to-be senators both handily won their elections last month, replacing retiring Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.).Al Weaver, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2024
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While Pugh has not officially retired, the former 12-year NFL veteran has found a new calling as a content creator.DJ Siddiqi, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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However, once Kraven is dropped back off at his home, the film never recovers the excitement of those first few scenes.Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
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Bitcoin ends month near $100,000 Bitcoin, which recently made a run at $100,000 before dropping back, briefly rose back above $98,000 but was recently trading around $97,300.CBS News, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near back away
Cite this Entry
“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20away. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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