The road was on a hill and the boy was going down the slope, and as he flashed by he started backpedalling very quickly so that the free-wheeling mechanism of his bike made a loud whirring sound.
Source: wiktionary
Backpedal
/ˈbækˌpɛdəɫ/
Synonyms for "backpedal" (76 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (16)
Strong matches (22)
countermarchcrawfish outcry offcurbdeceleratedelaydetaindodgedraw reinduckease offease upeludeevadeget aroundgo into reversehold backhold in checkhold upimpede
Show 2 more words
keep backlet down
Related words (38)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: arrest, back, back away, back down, back off.
- Sentence evidence is available for backpedal, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "backpedal".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "backpedal"
Keep "backpedal" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "backpedal" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "backpedal", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "backpedal" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
11 entriesbackpedal directionbackpedal motionbackpedal speedbackpedal stancebackpedal techniquebackpedalingpolicy reversalpolitical backpedalstance reversalstrategic backpedalswift backpedal
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
9 total sentences available.
The player had to backpedal before catching the ball.
Source: wiktionary
Though initially adopting a hard-line stance, the politician soon started to backpedal.
Source: wiktionary
The best car sound of 1999 is that of a new Rover 75 being furiously backpedalled through the motoring page of the Sunday Times.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "backpedal"?
Closest matches include arrest, back, back away, back down, back off.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "backpedal"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.