pushing back
Refusing to yield
Pushing back is resisting or challenging something—a deadline, a decision, an authority figure's demand.
It implies standing firm rather than accepting passively: When the client asked for more revisions, we pushed back.
The phrase suggests measured resistance rather than outright refusal, often in professional or diplomatic contexts: Employees are pushing back against the return-to-office mandate.
- counteractNullify by opposing force
- postponeDelay to later time
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- assertDeclare confidently true
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
hold off · shove · resistance · withstand · hold the line · reject · draw the line · oppose · challenge · defy · stand firm · stand your ground · dig in · contest · stall · slow walk · defend · dispute
- assertivenessassertiveness, boldness, directness, speaking up, firmness
- defiancedefiance, disobedience, insubordination, noncompliance, rebellion
- postponingdeferring, delaying, postponing, putting off, rescheduling
- standing upstanding up, standing ground, speaking out, speaking truth, voicing
- emotional responsesfacial expression, tone of voice, temper tantrum, mood swing, silent treatment
- toddler behaviortantrums, whining, pouting, saying no, defiance
pushing backpushing forward
Continuing toward a goal
moving up · advancing · bringing forward · expediting · propelling
pushing backyielding
Bending under pressure
giving in · acquiescing · capitulating · submitting · caving
pushing backgoing along
Moving with others
falling in line · supporting · endorsing · championing · rubber-stamping
push, pushing, back, pushed, pushes, pusher, pushers, pushback, backs