backdown
Reversal under pressure
A backdown is a retreat from a position, demand, or confrontation—a withdrawal under pressure.
The term implies someone had taken a firm stance but then yielded: The government's backdown on the tax increase surprised everyone.
More commonly expressed as the phrasal verb back down: He refused to back down.
Cease resistance, yield
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- caveUnderground hollow in rock
- relentCease resistance or severity
succumb · yield · fold · submit · acquiesce · defer · reverse course · give in
Entry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- retractionFormal withdrawal of statement
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- concessionYielding a point
mea culpa · apology · contrition · remorse · regret · atonement · amends · reconciliation
surrender
Cease resistance, yield
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- caveUnderground hollow in rock
relent · succumb · yield · fold · submit · acquiesce · defer · reverse course · give in · recant
admission
Entry or confession
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- retractionFormal withdrawal of statement
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
concession · mea culpa · apology · contrition · remorse · regret · atonement · amends · reconciliation · penitence
- post playpost, post up, post-up, post move, post moves
- escapeescape, flee, run away, get away, flight
- concessionfranchise, permit, license, grant, privilege
- correctionscorrection, corrections, fix, fixing, rectification
backdownescalation
Progressive increase in intensity
confrontation · doubling down · aggression · pushback · counterattack
backdownstand firm
Refuse to retreat
hold the line · dig in · holding ground · stick to one's guns · stand one's ground