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Definitions

weasel out

VERB
back out
Synonyms
STRONGEST
back down cancel give up renege surrender
WEAK
avoid back pedal beg off blow it off chicken out cop out get cold feet go back on recant resign scratch shy from throw in the towel wiggle out worm out
VERB
chicken out
Synonyms
WEAK
avoid back down back out back pedal beg off blow it off bow out cancel cop out funk out get cold feet give up give way go back on have no stomach for make concessions pull out recant renege resign scratch shy from surrender throw in the towel turn yellow wiggle out wimp out withdraw worm out yield
VERB
disengage
Synonyms
STRONGEST
back off detach disconnect disentangle dissociate extricate liberate withdraw
STRONG
abstract disassociate disjoin disunite divide ease loose loosen release separate unbind uncouple undo unfasten unloose untie
WEAK
back out cut loose cut out drop out opt out pull the plug set free unfix
Antonyms
STRONGEST
attach connect couple entangle join link
STRONG
collect combine fasten gather hold keep maintain unite
WEAK
bind engage
VERB
recant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annul back down back off backtrack contradict disavow disown renege renounce repudiate rescind retract revoke take back
STRONG
abjure abnegate abrogate apostatize cancel countermand deny disclaim forswear nullify recall repeal unsay void withdraw
WEAK
back out call back dial back eat one's words go back on one's word worm out of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accept agree allow approve corroborate go forward
STRONG
acknowledge admit affirm establish pass permit sanction validate
WEAK
confirm emphasize recapitulate
VERB
renege
Synonyms
STRONGEST
back out default on go back go back on one's word pull out retract reverse
STRONG
change one's mind have change of heart take back
WEAK
break faith break one's promise break one's word chicken out cop out get cold feet wimp out
VERB
repeal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abolish abrogate annul cancel dismantle invalidate lift nullify rescind reverse revoke set aside void wipe out withdraw
STRONG
KO backpedal blow countermand kill nix recall renege scrub vacate zap
WEAK
X out back out call off opt out shoot down stand down throw over wash out worm out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow approve build enforce establish institute keep legalize permit ratify sanction support uphold validate
WEAK
enact pass
VERB
rescind
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abolish abrogate annul cancel dismantle invalidate lift overturn quash renege repeal retract reverse revoke set aside void
STRONG
backpedal countermand forget nix recall remove scrub
WEAK
X out back out of backwater call off crawl out of pull the plug wangle out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow approve enact enforce establish institute keep legalize permit ratify sanction support uphold validate

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.

“But when universities do the same thing by trying to weasel out of their contracts, it’s equally corrosive.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

Pick something that you feel like you can't weasel out of, and then you just have to do it.

From Salon • Mar. 12, 2023

There will be some people on one side saying, “Yeah, you signed a contract, you’re just trying to weasel out of this thing.”

From Slate • Jul. 12, 2022

But if you’re looking for an example of how big companies weasel out of their promises, there it is.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2021

I’d earned some sympathy because of the attack, but I doubt I’d be able to weasel out of a detention if Marten caught me trying to skip.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson