FELL BACK Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

fell back

verb

past tense of fall back

as in withdrew

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell back

Verb

After starring in a slew of movies with each other, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen withdrew from the spotlight to focus on launching The Row, a luxury fashion brand, in 2005.

— Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Del Toro beat him at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes last month before Seixas later withdrew with injury — and UAE domestiques have made it onto the podium before, such as Adam Yates in 2024.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of withdrew

Verb

Meghan and Harry retreated from the royal spotlight in 2020, sparking global controversy and dividing opinion in Britain.

— Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026
McBreairty then retreated into the riverbed, and SWAT officers were called in to assist with the search, as were members of the Police Department’s Emergency Negotiation Team.

— Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026

Definition of retreated

Verb

Social Security benefits — paid mostly to recipients who are older or retired — are typically scheduled to go out on Wednesdays.

— Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Carpino retired in April, without ever explaining what was not right in the organization or, based on the standings, repairing it.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of retired

Verb

Advocaat threw his arms in the air, dropped back into his seat, and wept again.

— Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Edge rusher Jalyx Hunt said cornerback Kelee Ringo shouted out a signal to him before the snap, and Hunt dropped back into coverage and snagged Dalton’s throw.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 June 2026

Definition of dropped back

Verb

Years before Travis Kelce knelt to the ground and pulled out a custom ring for Taylor Swift, the Kansas City Chiefs player was just a fan in the stands who was desperate for a meet-and-greet with the superstar.

— Bryan West, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Several artists, including Martina McBride, Young MC, the Commodores and Bret Michaels, pulled out after being announced or associated with Freedom 250 events.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 July 2026

Definition of pulled out

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Browse Nearby Words

fell away

fell back

fell back on

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“Fell back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell%20back. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of fell back

verb

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