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 suspending military aide to Ukraine, President Trump considers backing away from NATO –
PRES.
—
NBC News, 9 Mar. 2025
Musk and President Donald Trump have defended the requirement, which calls on federal workers to list five personal accomplishments from the past week, though other White House officials had backed away from the suggestion that failing to do so will result in termination as Musk has said publicly.
—Christian Datoc, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Mar. 2025
As Musk appeared to back away from the interview, Stewart called him out.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Behind the scenes, Microsoft has been quietly backing away from its ambitious AI infrastructure plans.
—Jackie Snow, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back away
NBC News, 9 Mar. 2025
Musk and President Donald Trump have defended the requirement, which calls on federal workers to list five personal accomplishments from the past week, though other White House officials had backed away from the suggestion that failing to do so will result in termination as Musk has said publicly.
—Christian Datoc, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Mar. 2025
As Musk appeared to back away from the interview, Stewart called him out.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Behind the scenes, Microsoft has been quietly backing away from its ambitious AI infrastructure plans.
—Jackie Snow, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back away
Verb
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Waltz is now Trump's national security advisor, but Gaetz withdrew from consideration for attorney general.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
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Zoom in: The decision came shortly after USAGM special adviser Kari Lake withdrew an order to terminate the 2025 funding grant for VOA's sister broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.—
Sara Fischer,
Axios,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Financial markets have retreated this year amid mounting concerns that the Trump administration's economic policies could jar spending by American consumers and businesses, hurting economic growth.—
Anne Marie Lee,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2025
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Pelicans add another dimension to the scene on these deep lakes, formed roughly 12,000 years ago after the glaciers retreated allowing meltwater to form Channel Lake, Lake Marie, Loon Lake and others in northern Illinois.—
Sheryl De Vore,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Gently wake them up when the alarm goes off, encourage them to stay awake for a few minutes before falling back asleep.—
David Metzger,
Parents,
3 Apr. 2025
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If only the Niners had that kind of depth to fall back upon.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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O'Keefe was found on the front lawn of another Boston police officer who has since retired, Brian Albert.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Krause previously took over as lead for the agency after Doug O'Donnell retired in February.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The bitcoin price has dropped back from its peak of $110,000 per bitcoin reached in January ahead of U.S. president Donald Trump’s return to the White House (and hit by fears of a mystery new threat).—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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By Lap 10, Verstappen was dropping back from Hamilton, the gap sitting at over a second, but the Dutchman reported on Lap 14 that his tires were dead.—
Luke Smith,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Back away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back%20away. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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