Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

pull back

VERB
back away
Synonyms
WEAK
back out backpedal crawfish retreat withdraw
Antonyms
WEAK
move forward stay
VERB
back down
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abandon admit back off back out backtrack balk cancel cave in concede give in give up pull out renege retreat surrender take back withdraw
WEAK
accede acquiesce back pedal beg off bow out chicken out cop out demur give ground go back on have no fight left hold back recant recoil resign submit wimp out withdraw from agreement or statement yield
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance allow dispute dissent fight permit refuse reject uphold
WEAK
go forward
VERB
draw back
Synonyms
WEAK
deduct discount recede recoil reel in retreat sheathe shrink start back subtract take away withdraw
Antonyms
WEAK
forge go forward start
VERB
hesitate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
balk dither falter pause ponder stumble waffle waver
STRONG
alternate balance dally debate defer delay demur dillydally doubt equivocate flounder fluctuate fumble hang hedge hover linger oscillate pussyfoot scruple seesaw shift shrink stammer stop straddle stutter swerve tergiversate vacillate weigh
WEAK
be irresolute be reluctant be unwilling blow hot and cold hang back hem and haw hold back hold off shy away sit on fence think about think twice
Antonyms
STRONGEST
continue persist
STRONG
advance agree do well expedite face go go along hasten hurry meet remain rush stay
WEAK
attack carry on go ahead persevere resolve
VERB
recoil
Synonyms
STRONGEST
backfire balk blanch blink cringe demur flinch hesitate reel shudder tremble turn away waver wince
STRONG
blench carom dodge duck falter jerk kick quail quake react rebound resile shake shirk shrink spring start stick stickle swerve withdraw
WEAK
draw back shy away step back
Antonyms
STRONGEST
steady
STRONG
face meet remain stay
VERB
restrain
Synonyms
STRONGEST
confine constrain control curb curtail detain deter govern hamper hinder inhibit keep down kill limit prevent repress restrict subdue suppress
STRONG
arrest bind bridle chain check circumscribe contain control cool cork debar delimit direct fetter gag guide harness hold impound imprison jail keep manacle muzzle pinion proscribe stay
WEAK
bottle up box up choke back crack down hem in hogtie keep in line lock up sit on tie down tie up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist encourage free help let go liberate permit promote release start turn on
STRONG
abandon forsake give up leave loose loosen misguide mislead neglect set free
VERB
retire
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depart go pull out relinquish remove retreat separate surrender withdraw
STRONG
decamp ebb exit part recede regress repeal rescind resign revoke rusticate secede yield
WEAK
absent oneself deny oneself draw back fall back get away get off give ground give up work give way go away go to bed go to one's room go to sleep hand over hit the sack leave service make vacant run along seclude oneself sever connections stop working take off turn in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance continue remain stay
STRONG
approve arrive come in increase join
WEAK
begin enter
VERB
retract
Synonyms
STRONGEST
back down back off cancel deny disavow disown recant renege renounce repeal repudiate rescind reverse revoke rule out take back withdraw
STRONG
abjure back countermand disclaim eliminate exclude forswear recall recede retreat retrograde sheathe suspend unsay unsend
WEAK
back out of call off change one's mind draw in eat one's words fall back forget it go back on have change of heart pull in reel in retrocede take in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
acknowledge admit agree allow approve enforce go forward permit sanction
STRONG
accept advance forge include welcome
WEAK
corroborate emphasize reaffirm repeat
VERB
superannuate
Synonyms
STRONG
decamp depart ebb exit go part pension recede regress relinquish remove repeal rescind resign retreat revoke rusticate secede separate surrender withdraw yield
WEAK
absent oneself deny oneself draw back fall back get away get off give ground give up work give way go away go to bed go to one's room go to sleep hand over hit the sack leave service make vacant pull out put out to pasture run along seclude oneself sever connections stop working take off turn in
Antonyms
STRONG
advance allow approve arrive combine come come in enter forge increase join permit remain stay unite
VERB
withdraw
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depart disengage drop out eliminate go leave pull out quit retire retreat
STRONG
abjure blow book detach exit extract quail recede recoil secede shrink switch vacate
WEAK
absent oneself back out bail out bow out check out draw away draw back ease out exfiltrate fall back get away get lost get off give ground give way keep aloof keep apart make oneself scarce phase out run along seclude oneself take a hike take away take leave take off take out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
begin come continue engage enter join keep persevere stay
STRONG
arrive combine come in face meet unite
WEAK
advance allow permit remain

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.

“Families who depend on petroleum products to commute to jobs and school and to heat their homes may need to pull back on more discretionary forms of spending,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

To pull back from that, I think, would upend decades of settled practice and be a real step back for our collective understanding of the presidency.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2026

“If this kind of pull back really made you nervous, you’re probably carrying too much risk,” Sosnick said.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

With the federal government set to pull back significantly from lending to students, private student lenders are gearing up to fill the void.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Next, I pull back my bangs and study the spots underneath.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish