back down vs retire

back down and retire both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
back down	No	No	Yes	No
retire	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, retire is a hypernym of back down; that is, retire is a word with a broader meaning than back down:

Other hypernyms of back down include draw back, move back, pull away, pull back, recede, retreat, withdraw.

As verbs, retire is a hypernym of back down; that is, retire is a word with a broader meaning than back down:

Other hypernyms of back down include withdraw.

back down (verb)	retire (verb)
move backwards from a certain position	prepare for sleep
remove oneself from an obligation	cause to get out
	cause to be out on a fielding play
	lose interest
	pull back or move away or backward
	dispose of (something no longer useful or needed)
	break from a meeting or gathering
	go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
	withdraw from active participation
	make (someone) retire
	withdraw from circulation or from the market, as of bills, shares, and bonds