backtracking
5
5.5
- noun
- /ˈbækˌtrækɪŋ/
- Good-faith negotiating generally causes parties' divergences to narrow; backtracking or reneging on past offers is a dangerous omen.
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Watch on YouTubeAnd now there's there's furious backtracking.
- And now there's there's furious backtracking.
Examples
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The political fallout of changing the legislation at this point would prevent any backtracking on, for instance, minimum wage, family leave, etc.
Blog text (6) -
Since then there have been several weeks of backtracking and U-turns as it became clear that the proposals were in some respects unworkable and/or unscientific.
Academic text (2012) -
That was before the Romney campaign caused him to do some backtracking.
Blog text (23) -
The damage done by this backtracking by the US lead negotiator on the two degrees target goes beyond questioning the relevance of a global target for the climate negotiations.
Blog text (27) -
U.S. backtracking on liberalization gives other countries an excuse to do likewise and reduces the prospects for future reductions of barriers.
Academic text (2002) -
It seems like there's a lot of backtracking on the potential savings; too bad they didn't underpromise and overdeliver instead of the opposite.
Blog text (27) -
The campaign rejected the notion that Mr. Ryan's backtracking on some details is evidence of a pattern of inaccuracies, which some independent fact-checkers and the Obama campaign seized on after Mr. Ryan's convention speech.
Blog text (29) -
"With Obama, we've all been disappointed with the backtracking, although he also needs credit for the original Ogden memo and opening the gates to a wider proliferation of medical marijuana around the country," said Drug Policy Action head Ethan Nadelmann.
Blog text (16) -
The politician's frequent backtracking on his promises frustrated many of his supporters.
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After much deliberation, the company announced that there would be no backtracking on their previous commitments.
Synonyms
31
6.7
A sudden change in opinion or policy that reverses an earlier decision
23
6.0
An official statement saying that something written or said before was wrong
12
7.3
A sudden, complete change of direction or opinion
9
4.2
An official decision that cancels an earlier court decision
9
6.0
A complete change to the opposite view or decision
8
5.2
A sudden change to the opposite decision or policy
5
2.8
A decision to take back a previous choice or opinion
4
4.2
An action that reverses the effect of a previous action
2
9.0
A public statement saying you no longer believe something you said before
1
6.6
A sudden public change of a decision or promise
1
7.4
An act of saying you were wrong or changing your view
1
6.2
An act of taking back a public statement or plan after pressure
Admitting you have lost or accepting that others are right
Antonyms
How Complete
- Literature
23
6.0
145
4.1
5
5.5
6
2.7
9
4.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Backtracking is made of back and track, meaning 'to go back along your path'. So when someone takes back a promise or idea, we say they are backtracking because they are reversing their earlier decision or statement.