backpedal
verb
back·ped·al ˈbak-ˌpe-dᵊl 
backpedaled; backpedaling; backpedals
intransitive verb
: to retreat or move backward
Example Sentences
The outfielder backpedaled a few steps to catch the fly ball.
Recent Examples on the Web Some Republicans are trying to backpedal or soften their stances. 
Katie Glueck, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 Deputies and officers backpedal out of the condo and two officers and a deputy stumble and fall over each other. San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2022 Now Italy’s Matteo Salvini, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, France’s Marine Le Pen, and others are trying to backpedal without completely reversing previous positions. Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2022 The nation’s top health agency is expected to backpedal Tuesday on its masking guidelines and recommend that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging, according to a federal official. Mike Stobbe, chicagotribune.com, 27 July 2021 The nation’s top health agency is expected to backpedal Tuesday on its masking guidelines and recommend that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging, according to a federal official. Time, 27 July 2021 Plus, once Loeb stepped into the room behind LaBeouf and Kirby they’d be trapped, unless Mundruczó could backpedal out. Hillary Kelly, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2021 Now Libra is backpedaling to say that anyone who wants to verify transactions on the network will need to gain certain approvals. Kurt Wagner, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2020 However, the ink was barely dry on the law before the Supreme Court backpedaled on applying it. New York Times, 28 Oct. 2019 See More
Katie Glueck, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 Deputies and officers backpedal out of the condo and two officers and a deputy stumble and fall over each other. San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2022 Now Italy’s Matteo Salvini, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, France’s Marine Le Pen, and others are trying to backpedal without completely reversing previous positions. Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2022 The nation’s top health agency is expected to backpedal Tuesday on its masking guidelines and recommend that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging, according to a federal official. Mike Stobbe, chicagotribune.com, 27 July 2021 The nation’s top health agency is expected to backpedal Tuesday on its masking guidelines and recommend that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging, according to a federal official. Time, 27 July 2021 Plus, once Loeb stepped into the room behind LaBeouf and Kirby they’d be trapped, unless Mundruczó could backpedal out. Hillary Kelly, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2021 Now Libra is backpedaling to say that anyone who wants to verify transactions on the network will need to gain certain approvals. Kurt Wagner, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2020 However, the ink was barely dry on the law before the Supreme Court backpedaled on applying it. New York Times, 28 Oct. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
1896, in the meaning defined above
backpedal
verb
as in to backtrack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- backtrack
- retract
- recant
- disavow
- recall
- withdraw
- unsay
- forswear
- wimp out
- take back
- renege
- abjure
- repudiate
- foreswear
- abnegate
- back down
- back out
- cop out
- chicken (out)
- back off
- beg off
- cry off
- fink out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adhere (to)
- keep
- fulfill
- satisfy
- honor
- fulfil
- comply (with)
- follow through (with)