BACKPEDAL Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

backpedal

verb

Definition of backpedal

as in to backtrack

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of backpedal In follow-up interviews, Grede has declined to backpedal. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026 But leaders shouldn’t backpedal on criminal justice reforms. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026 Facing pressure from New England, Jarrett Stidham was backpedaling on third down and tried to throw a chest pass. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 25 Jan. 2026 Quarterback Bo Nix, in a sight much too frequent in the 19-3 win, was left to backpedal for his life and loft a duck of an incompletion. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for backpedal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedal

Verb

Weeks later, McCollough would backtrack, becoming defensive when Colleen asked her how the conversation with Watts went.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
The scheduled vote on whether to backtrack the May decision follows intense backlash from national public safety leaders and police unions as violence makes headlines in the Greater Boston Area, including the mass shooting on Memorial Drive.

— Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of backtrack

Verb

Warren’s letter also questioned confusion about the FDA reporting that Taylor Farms’ lettuce had tested positive for Cyclospora, only to retract the claim the next day, calling it a false positive.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
The myth that they’re somehow linked stems from a single report from England involving just a dozen children that was later found to be fraudulent and unethical and was forced to be retracted.

— Andrew D. Racine, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of retract

Verb

The witnesses previously recanted, and Wednesday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott offered an apology.

— Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
In addition, investigators working for Duncan’s legal team interviewed a jailhouse informant who recanted his earlier trial testimony that Duncan had confessed to the crime.

— Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 29 June 2026

Definition of recant

Browse Nearby Words

backpacks

backpedal

backpedaled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedal. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of backpedal

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

prowess

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes