What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
crawfishing
Example
The politician was accused of crawfishing on his campaign promises. [crawfishing: verb]
Example
The employee was caught crawfishing on their previous statement during the investigation. [crawfishing: gerund or present participle]
backpedaling
Example
The company CEO was accused of backpedaling on their commitment to diversity and inclusion. [backpedaling: verb]
Example
The athlete was caught backpedaling on their previous statement about their performance-enhancing drug use. [backpedaling: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Backpedaling is more commonly used than crawfishing in everyday language. Backpedaling is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while crawfishing is less common and may not be understood by all English speakers.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between crawfishing and backpedaling?
While backpedaling can be used in both formal and informal contexts, crawfishing is typically associated with a more informal tone and may not be appropriate in formal settings.
