backdrops

noun

plural of backdrop
as in scenes
the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed visitors dine at the restaurant with a dramatic stretch of the Pacific Ocean as a jaw-dropping backdrop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backdrops Balloon walls, rose backdrops, giant waffle wings — pretty much every corner is a photo station. — Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026 Meanwhile, Oregon and Washington state shared an empty pavilion, with nothing but backdrops that showed beavers and the ocean or Amazon packages and the ocean, respectively. — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2026 For those of us who live in Australia, there was a surreal quality to witnessing the frenzied panic of a mass shooting unfold against one of the country’s most iconic backdrops. — Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 From coast to coast, the long July 4th weekend will still offer spectacular fireworks shows, against stunning backdrops including Niagara Falls and Mount Rushmore, and parties like Nashville’s Let Freedom Sing event. — Joe Yogerst, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 Besides the most obvious choices, the list also includes some childhood favorites, recipe collections, and Southern narratives that have endured time, whether offering historical perspectives or vivid Southern backdrops. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 June 2026 The film is a sweeping romance set against one of history’s most unlikely backdrops — Germany in the immediate aftermath of WWII. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 June 2026 Set the scene The drive from the Bozeman Airport is just under one hour and tours through vast open acre terrains and peak-mountain-backdrops of the Northern Rockies. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026 Herring Cove is closer to town and known for calmer waters, while Race Point directly faces the Atlantic Ocean and offers more crashing waves and taller dune backdrops to your beachside photo session. — Cameron Sperance, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backdrops
  1. scenes
  2. backgrounds
  3. sceneries
  4. grounds
  5. stages
Noun
  • The actors also showcased their talent by performing scenes from the show, in tandem with clips projected onto the big panel screens for audiences.
    — Diya Chacko, Oc Register, 24 July 2026
  • The oversized teeth of the character were originally to be used only during silent scenes, but Carrey learned to talk with them on to make his character even more cartoon-like.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
Definition of scenes
Noun
  • Each design was simulated spinning mid-flight and overlaid on 100 real-world backgrounds, then scored by a perceptual model built to mimic human vision, where a lower score meant better camouflage.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 July 2026
  • The two remaining finalists represent a diverse set of backgrounds.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of backgrounds
Noun
  • Here, the contrast of sea and stone creates some of the most striking coastal sceneries in the Mediterranean.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Definition of sceneries
Noun
  • Beauty, wellness and fitness became early proving grounds because their products naturally fit into creators’ everyday content.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 24 July 2026
  • The house, built in 1999, has become one of the show’s most recognizable filming locations, thanks to its expansive grounds and grand interiors.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 July 2026
Definition of grounds
Noun
  • Since the knockout stages began, the constant threat of separation has loomed over every step Argentina have made.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Before that, much like Argentina, La Roja had relied on some late goals to get through the latter stages – mainly from Mikel Merino, who struck the winner in both the Round of 16 and quarterfinal after coming on as a late substitute.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
Definition of stages

Browse Nearby Words

backdrop
backdrops
backed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backdrops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backdrops. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on backdrops

Nglish: Translation of backdrops for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All