as in to backtrack
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Recent Examples of backpedal
Gascón backpedaled on his ban halfway through his term, deciding to allow prosecutors to seek transfers to adult court in some instances.
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Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
After spending most of 2017 discussing military options, the administration backpedaled in January and denied that such plans even existed.
—Victor Cha, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2018
In Chicago’s season-opening win over the Titans, there was a moment in the first quarter when Williams backpedaled more than 10 yards before being sacked for a 19-yard loss.
—Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2024
Nutt backpedaled to create more distance between Crabtree and him, the letter states.
—Tracy Neal, arkansasonline.com, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backpedal 
Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
After spending most of 2017 discussing military options, the administration backpedaled in January and denied that such plans even existed.
—Victor Cha, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2018
In Chicago’s season-opening win over the Titans, there was a moment in the first quarter when Williams backpedaled more than 10 yards before being sacked for a 19-yard loss.
—Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2024
Nutt backpedaled to create more distance between Crabtree and him, the letter states.
—Tracy Neal, arkansasonline.com, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backpedal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedal
Verb
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Defeating enemies does make backtracking much more manageable, however, as most monsters stay dead, very rarely respawning over time.George Yang, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024
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Slowly but surely, as the pandemic's unique circumstances fade, companies are backtracking on hybrid and remote work arrangements and rapidly restoring pre-pandemic business norms.Julian Hayes II, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024
Verb
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In the lyrical spar, J. Cole offered a diss record against his Compton peer, but then retracted the song and issued an apology.DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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The most infamous of these had occurred in 2000, when several networks prematurely called Florida for Al Gore, only to retract the call and later declare George W. Bush the winner, as the state plunged into a protracted recount.Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Among the key evidence used to convict him of first-degree murder was testimony from two boys who later recanted, saying they had been coerced by police and prosecutors.CBS News, CBS News, 23 Oct. 2024
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But Shawn Ryan, the host of the podcast where Howard made his claim, posted a video to X on Oct. 13 recanting it after being contacted by a guardsman and reviewing documents.Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 22 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedal. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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