as in to backtrack
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Recent Examples of backpedal
Other tests showed that models can show what’s called a sycophancy bias — the tendency of an LLM to backpedal on a correct answer to please the user.
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Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
And without having to backpedal after turnovers, Golden State’s defense swallowed up the Pelicans in the half court.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
After manufacturers spent the beginning of the decade making ambitious promises about electric vehicle production and sales, many have spent the past few years backpedaling.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024
Frenchman Pascal surrenders to his fears and leaves Joan
Pascal has been furiously backpedaling in the Joan stakes as the show has progressed.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backpedal 
Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
And without having to backpedal after turnovers, Golden State’s defense swallowed up the Pelicans in the half court.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
After manufacturers spent the beginning of the decade making ambitious promises about electric vehicle production and sales, many have spent the past few years backpedaling.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024
Frenchman Pascal surrenders to his fears and leaves Joan
Pascal has been furiously backpedaling in the Joan stakes as the show has progressed.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backpedal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedal
Verb
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The singer quickly backtracked on his comments but the damage was done.Shannon Power, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
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Earlier this year, Savage backtracked the revelation.DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Such statements are easy to make, and easy to retract, especially for Putin who has a habit of distorting the truth.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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Bose’s design is also more versatile, letting the buds extend fully around your ears, and retract neatly to fit into a compact charging case.Ryan Waniata, WIRED, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Ivana recanted a rape allegation against Trump in 2015.Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
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At the time, Twitter management called that an application of rules against sharing private information and hacked materials, but then-CEO Jack Dorsey quickly recanted it.Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 27 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedal. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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