backpedal
verb
back·ped·al
ˈbak-ˌpe-dᵊl 
backpedaled; backpedaling; backpedals
: to retreat or move backward
Examples of backpedal in a Sentence
The outfielder backpedaled a few steps to catch the fly ball.
Recent Examples on the Web
Russia will have to backpedal on its adversarial and hostile stance toward the U.S., and Putin’s apparently good relations with Trump could also make that far easier.
—
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2025
Namely, making a downhill defender have to turn on a dime and sprint uphill, backpedaling between wing and prayer.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
But Kennedy and Gabbard are obviously trying to backpedal just enough to get confirmed without any true change in their worldviews.
—The Editors, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
Dozens of shareholders representing $266 billion in assets are calling on Walmart to spell out the business reasons for backpedaling on the retailer's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2025
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Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2025
Namely, making a downhill defender have to turn on a dime and sprint uphill, backpedaling between wing and prayer.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
But Kennedy and Gabbard are obviously trying to backpedal just enough to get confirmed without any true change in their worldviews.
—The Editors, National Review, 31 Jan. 2025
Dozens of shareholders representing $266 billion in assets are calling on Walmart to spell out the business reasons for backpedaling on the retailer's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for backpedal
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Cite this Entry
“Backpedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backpedal. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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