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.

Consumer spending is increasingly uneven, with higher-income households driving growth as lower and middle incomes pull back.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

“While other entertainment companies pull back, we’re leaning in,” Co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos wrote in a post Tuesday about the report.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Inflation and economic uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict is giving some chief executives and tech leaders reason to pull back or pause their IT hiring, said Janco Chief Executive Victor Janulaitis.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Carriers said last month that demand has been resilient despite higher fares, giving them little incentive to pull back their prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

I pull back from a kiss and look at her.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

pull back

Example Sentences

Related Words