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backtracking

NOUN

palinode

Synonyms

WEAK

abjuration abnegation about-face abrogation annulment backpedaling contradiction contraversion denial disavowal disclaimer disowning forswearing gainsaying nullification recall recantation reneging renouncing repudiation retractation reversal revocation unsaying volte-face withdrawal

NOUN

recantation

Synonyms

STRONG

abjuration abnegation about-face abrogation annulment contradiction denial disavowal disclaimer disowning forswearing nullification recall repudiation reversal revocation volte-face withdrawal

WEAK

backpedaling contraversion gainsaying palinode reneging renouncing retractation unsaying

Antonyms

STRONG

agreement approval confirmation corroboration restoration

NOUN

retractation

Synonyms

WEAK

abjuration abnegation about-face abrogation annulment backpedaling contradiction contraversion denial disavowal disclaimer disowning forswearing gainsaying nullification palinode recall recantation reneging renouncing repudiation reversal revocation unsaying volte-face withdrawal

NOUN

retraction

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annulment denial disavowal disclaimer repudiation reversal

STRONG

abjuration abnegation about-face abrogation contradiction disowning forswearing nullification recall revocation volte-face withdrawal

WEAK

backpedaling contraversion gainsaying reneging renouncing unsaying

Antonyms

WEAK

confirmation corroboration reaffirmation

NOUN

U-turn

Synonyms

STRONGEST

change of mind reversal turnaround

STRONG

retraction volte-face

WEAK

U-ey change of heart change of plan eating one's words one-eighty sea change

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Happily, the backtracking and throat-clearing ends a little less than halfway through, and from then on it’s all baseball.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Just hours before this latest backtracking, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting – who'd quite fancy being prime minister himself one day – said it was important the government "gets it right first time".

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026

You have this breakup, and now she’s sort of backtracking like Elon Musk did.

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2025

"Ten years after the Paris Agreement and we are still trying to lobby," he told AFP, adding that backtracking by polluters was "very disheartening".

From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025

Clearly the traffic got so bad, people turned around on the road and tried to go the other way, hoping that backtracking would actually cut their losses.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

backtracking

Example Sentences

Related Words