backpedaler
One who retreats
A backpedaler is someone who reverses position or retreats from a previous stance.
The term comes from the cycling motion of pedaling backward, which on some bikes activates the brake.
Politicians are frequent backpedalers, walking back statements when they prove unpopular: The senator was called a backpedaler after abandoning her campaign promises.
Also spelled backpedaller.
One who speaks ambiguously
- prevaricatorOne who deceives verbally
- dissemblerOne who hides beliefs
- hedgerOne who avoids commitment
- dodgerOne who avoids
sidestepper · fence-sitter · pussyfooter · deflector · evader · equivocation · prevarication · doublespeak
One who reverses positions
- wafflerOne who hesitates endlessly
- recanterOne who disavows
- renegerOne who breaks promises
- disavowerOne who disclaims
reverser · retraction · recantation · repudiation · disavowal · renege · recant · about-face
One who fluctuates
- wavererIndecisive person
- dithererPerpetually indecisive person
- hesitatorOne who delays deciding
- wafflerOne who hesitates endlessly
vacillate · waver · dither · hesitate · falter · equivocate · irresolute · undecided
One who pulls back
- capitulatorOne who surrenders
- quitterOne who surrenders
- deserterOne who abandons duty
- defectorOne who abandons allegiance
surrenderer · retreat · capitulate · yield · surrender · cave · fold · bail
equivocator
One who speaks ambiguously
- prevaricatorOne who deceives verbally
- dissemblerOne who hides beliefs
- hedgerOne who avoids commitment
dodger · sidestepper · fence-sitter · pussyfooter · deflector · evader · equivocation · prevarication · doublespeak · evasiveness
flip-flopper
One who reverses positions
disavower · reverser · retraction · recantation · repudiation · disavowal · renege · recant · about-face · U-turn
vacillator
One who fluctuates
waffler · vacillate · waver · dither · hesitate · falter · equivocate · irresolute · undecided · ambivalent
retreater
One who pulls back
- capitulatorOne who surrenders
- quitterOne who surrenders
- deserterOne who abandons duty
defector · surrenderer · retreat · capitulate · yield · surrender · cave · fold · bail · cower
backpedalerstalwart
Unwavering loyal supporter
die-hard · true believer · loyalist · hardliner · devotee
backpedalercharger
Power-restoring device or mount
advancer · trailblazer · pioneer · escalator
backpedal, backpedals, backpedaling, backpedalled, backpedalling