DROPPING BACK Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

dropping back

verb

present participle of drop back

as in withdrawing

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) a change in the wind direction forced the firefighters to drop back

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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 dropping back The Crimson Tide are 5-2 for the season, dropping back-to-back games against Georgia and Tennessee. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Seattle accomplishes this by masterfully disguising defensive assignments before the snap, which can force Mahomes to diagnose where to go with the football only after dropping back. — Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 Most of the week looks dry and seasonable around Philadelphia, with highs dropping back into the 60s on Wednesday. — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Dyerville Loop Road begins along the Eel River in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, then rises into the foothills of Humboldt County, California before dropping back down to the river near Fort Seward. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 Despite dropping back in the final kilometers, overall leader Tadej Pogačar limited his time losses by driving the main chase group across the line. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 The loss snapped Miami’s seven-game unbeaten streak in league play and was the team’s third loss in a row after dropping back-to-back games in the Leagues Cup tournament. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026 But first, dropping back from a low zone along the right sideline, Pettus snared a deep pass intended for Mack Hollins amid a crowd of players. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026 Downs is everywhere As expected, rookie defensive back Caleb Downs has been moved all over the field, mostly playing nickel cornerback but also dropping back to play deep safety. — Jon MacHota, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dropping back

Verb

In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
After two decades of war, the US military was withdrawing from Afghanistan, and Kabul was falling.

— Azadeh Moaveni, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of withdrawing

Verb

Many have reacted by retreating, focusing on cultivating niche audiences.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Longtime collaborator Erik Blood foregrounds Butler’s dry drum machines in the mix, letting every other element shuffle around them, snaking toward the spotlight for a brief moment and retreating back into the brume.

— Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of retreating

Verb

National groups from both parties began pulling out of the race earlier this month, signaling that both now view the contest as less competitive than previously thought.

— Josephine Murphy, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
As good as Oliver Stone is at pulling out incredible performances from his male stars, the same isn’t always true for his leading ladies.

— Michael Douglas, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of pulling out

Verb

The mission will arrive at the moons in 2027, spend two years mapping Phobos and selecting a landing site for sampling before backing away to observe Deimos.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Instead of literally backing away, in this example, the person metaphorically backs away by completing the session and exiting as expected without further conflict.

— Michele Patterson Ford, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of backing away

Verb

Both Collins and Manchin — who represented deep-red West Virginia in the Senate before leaving the Democratic Party and retiring in 2024 — have a history of clashing with their respective parties.

— Taurean Small, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Outgoing ranking members Angie Craig of Minnesota and Nydia Velázquez of New York are also behind, though retiring members and frontliners generally don’t pay dues in full.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026