backpedal

verb

Definition of backpedalnext
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 Pope Francis and Buttigieg both backpedaled after Jewish leaders expressed concerns. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 6 May 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 The other officer then exited his vehicle and began backpedaling, and Guzman started walking toward him, according to footage in the video. — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for backpedal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedal
  1. backtrack
  2. retract
  3. recant
Verb
  • Benson argued that Talarico is trying to backtrack from previous statements he’s made, and said that Talarico questioned where accusations of him being a vegan came from.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2026
  • Now, the company is trying to get the government to backtrack.
    — Caitlin Babcock, Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2026
Definition of backtrack
Verb
  • As soon as the error was realized, the story was retracted and removed from NPR’s website and an on-air correction was broadcast.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 June 2026
  • At least one publication—Vox—followed NPR’s reporting and also had to retract a story.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 June 2026
Definition of retract
Verb
  • 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
  • At least three people were arrested and police said at least four others have recanted.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
Definition of recant

Browse Nearby Words

backpacks
backpedal
backpedaled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All