Meaning & use
Backpedaling
Last updated
Reversing a previous statement, position, or course of action, often to avoid conflict or admit an error.
See it in a sentence
The senator started backpedaling as soon as the remark drew backlash.
After public outcry, the company began backpedaling on its new pricing policy.
A note on using this word
The word originates from cycling, where pedaling backward slows or reverses a bicycle's motion, giving rise to its figurative sense of retracting a stance.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
persistingstanding firm
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