backpedaling

verb

present participle of backpedal
as in backtracking

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backpedaling
  1. retracting
  2. recanting
Verb
  • Vivo and Oppo phones have relied on various gimmicks, like smaller gimbals and pop-out lenses, to improve camera performance, though not to the extent of a physically retracting gimbal.
    — Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The remote control has mixed reviews, with this seemingly retracting from its otherwise glowing reviews.
    — Tantse Walter, Space.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of retracting
Verb
  • Lawyers for the former Penn State assistant football coach told a court that one of his victims signed an affidavit recanting his testimony, court documents say.
    — Dan Snyder, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But in 1999, the four men were arrested, with Springsteen and Scott confessing and later recanting, according to the AP.
    — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of recanting
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.

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backpedaled
backpedaling
backpedals
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Cite this Entry

“Backpedaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backpedaling. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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