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What is another word for backing off?

Need synonyms for backing off? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

Present participle for to retreat, especially from a confronting situation

Present participle for to renege or change one's mind on a position, agreement or promise

Present participle for leave alone

Present participle for to go back on a previous claim, statement or position

Present participle for to change one's opinion or stance, especially at the behest of someone

Present participle for to grimace or flinch out of pain or distress

Present participle for to make (someone or something) late or slow

Present participle for to become less angry, worked up, or stressed

Present participle for to stop or desist from doing something

… more ▼

Verb

▲

Present participle for to retreat, especially from a confronting situation

baulking^UK

balking^US

beating a hasty retreat

groveling^US

grovelling^UK

making oneself scarce

stopping participating

stopping participating in

showing a clean pair of heels

making a getaway

folding

flying the coop

making a break for it

heading for the hills

more ❯

“Coleman said the fire was strong enough at one point that firefighters had to back off and go into defensive mode.”

Verb

▲

Present participle for to renege or change one's mind on a position, agreement or promise

“Then, step by step, he persuaded the officer in command to back off from his initial stance.”

Verb

▲

Present participle for leave alone

getting off someone's case

letting someone breathe

stopping annoying

stopping nagging

Verb

▲

Present participle for to go back on a previous claim, statement or position

going back on your word

going back on

canceling^US

cancelling^UK

throwing in the towel

doing an about-turn on

having second thoughts

shifting one's ground

going into reverse

withdrawing from

defaulting on

singing a different song

having no stomach for

getting cold feet about

apologizing^US

having change of heart

apologising^UK

washing your hands of

declaring null and void

stopping participating in

stopping participating

knocking something on the head

having no more truck with

having nothing to do with

having no truck with

letting well enough alone

giving a wide berth to

more ❯

Verb

▲

Present participle for to change one's opinion or stance, especially at the behest of someone

Verb

▲

Present participle for to grimace or flinch out of pain or distress

Verb

▲

Present participle for to make (someone or something) late or slow

getting in the way of

standing in the way of

bringing to screeching halt

hog-tying

throwing a spanner in the works

throwing a monkey wrench in the works of

balking^US

baulking^UK

putting the brakes on

keeping under control

bringing to a standstill

putting at a disadvantage

placing at a disadvantage

nipping in the bud

reducing speed

saddling with

slamming on the anchors

preventing from making progress

putting on the brakes

slamming on the brakes

throwing a spoke in the wheel of

putting out of commission

putting the kibosh on

upsetting

doing for

ditching

putting the stopper on

keeping within bounds

keeping tight rein on

keeping the lid on

keeping a tight rein on

inflicting a handicap on

telling against

treating unfavourably

treating harshly

doing a disservice to

putting in an unfavourable position

treating unfairly

giving a disadvantage to

softening

playing for time

putting a spoke in someone's wheel

more ❯

Verb

▲

Present participle for to become less angry, worked up, or stressed

Verb

Present participle for to stop or desist from doing something

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What is another word for backing off?

Need synonyms for backing off? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

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