backstop

²backstop

verb

Definition of BACKSTOP

transitive verb

1

: support, bolster

2

: to serve as a backstop to

3

: to play the position of goalkeeper for <backstop a hockey team>

Examples of BACKSTOP

1. <the Nobel-winning geneticist was of course backstopped in his research by a team of highly talented assistants>

First Known Use of BACKSTOP

1941

Related to BACKSTOP

Synonyms: abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop (up), support

Antonyms: hinder

Related Words: advance, ease, facilitate, forward, foster, further, launch; champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, promote, sponsor; attend, care (for), comfort, minister (to), succor; sustain; bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce); advise, counsel, guide, mentor, nurture; bail out, deliver, rescue, save; embolden, encourage, hearten; benefit, favor, oblige, profit, serve

Near Antonyms: balk, bar, block, constrain, hamper, handicap, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, restrain, strangle; baffle, foil, frustrate, inconvenience, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down; discourage, dishearten; repress, retard, stifle, straiten, stunt; damage, harm, hurt, injure

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