as in to backtrack
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Recent Examples of backpedal
Trump yet again backpedaled on tariffs amid consumer anxiety.
—
Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025
Put another way: Some of the Eastern Conference powers have backpedaled, creating a wide-open battle for the two wild-card spots.
—Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
After his arrest, the county backpedaled on hiring Osceola.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
Image Trump aides backpedaled on his Gaza plan President Trump’s surprise proposal that the U.S. take over Gaza, driving nearly two million Palestinians out, shocked even senior officials at his own White House.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025
Put another way: Some of the Eastern Conference powers have backpedaled, creating a wide-open battle for the two wild-card spots.
—Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
After his arrest, the county backpedaled on hiring Osceola.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
Image Trump aides backpedaled on his Gaza plan President Trump’s surprise proposal that the U.S. take over Gaza, driving nearly two million Palestinians out, shocked even senior officials at his own White House.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedal
Verb
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Following waves of pushback from customers, more than a dozen GOP attorneys general and online campaigns, companies across the country have backtracked or rescaled their DEI programming in the past year.—
Tyler Whetstone,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
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However, after much confusion and backlash, the SSA backtracked on some of the new measures and also extended the timeline, allowing more time for the system—and Social Security recipients—to prepare for the new identity proofing requirements.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Both publications eventually retracted the article.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
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With the campaign retracted, the focus turned to the name.—
Meg Linehan,
The Athletic,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The effort was later recanted after the premier met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
28 Mar. 2025
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The first victim came forward in 2018, but she was called a liar by the administration at El Crystal and recanted, prosecutors said.—
Jason Green,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedal. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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