as in countryside
usually backlands plural
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country
they purposely vacationed in the backlands to get away from people
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backland
But more migrants, moving farther into remote backlands to elude the Border Patrol, have died in scorching desert heat, a shameful indicator that enforcement is having an effect in many places.
—
Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
His protagonist, living in direst poverty in Brazil’s arid backlands, decides to migrate to the wealthier coast.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Dec. 2019
Born in the arid backlands of Brazil’s north-east, Mr Gilberto arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 1950 as a singer in one of the then-fashionable vocal ensembles.
—The Economist, 11 July 2019
Tucked in the emerald backlands of Fayetteville, Georgia, inside a cavernous soundstage at Pinewood Studios, Mara Brock-Akil is in full field marshall mode.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 19 June 2018
Patrícia Santos da Silva, 24, and her family live in the city of Santana do Ipanema, in the western backlands of Alagoas.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Nov. 2017
Some escaped and formed clandestine communities in the backlands of the rainforest, independent villages known as quilombos.
—Smithsonian, 21 Sep. 2017
Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
His protagonist, living in direst poverty in Brazil’s arid backlands, decides to migrate to the wealthier coast.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Dec. 2019
Born in the arid backlands of Brazil’s north-east, Mr Gilberto arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 1950 as a singer in one of the then-fashionable vocal ensembles.
—The Economist, 11 July 2019
Tucked in the emerald backlands of Fayetteville, Georgia, inside a cavernous soundstage at Pinewood Studios, Mara Brock-Akil is in full field marshall mode.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 19 June 2018
Patrícia Santos da Silva, 24, and her family live in the city of Santana do Ipanema, in the western backlands of Alagoas.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Nov. 2017
Some escaped and formed clandestine communities in the backlands of the rainforest, independent villages known as quilombos.
—Smithsonian, 21 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backland
Noun
-
Tsou is a longtime producing and writing partner of Sean Baker, who produces and co-writes this story of a mother who returns to Taipei with her two daughters after several years of living in the countryside to open a night market stand.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
9 May 2025
-
Its quiet roads, rolling farmland, friendly communities, and local businesses provide a sense of escape, a slower pace of life, and the chance to unwind in Virginia's countryside.—
Abby Price,
Travel + Leisure,
5 May 2025
Noun
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The island is thick with bush, and there are many places for a small dog to hide.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
7 May 2025
-
Use those around plants that appreciate acidic soil, like your azaleas and blueberry bushes.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Like those hinterland émigrés cobbling together a revue at a boîte, Encores!—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
In The Bulwark, Jonathan V. Last emphasized the strategic advantage of a movement that makes its way from the hinterlands toward Washington.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The setup is also familiar but effective: A water conflict on a backwater planet.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
12 May 2025
-
Who knew there’d be so many backwater swamps, potholes and detours on the road to making America great again.—
Steve Lopez,
Mercury News,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
In Washington, the White House said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in constant contact with the leaders of both countries and reiterated that President Donald Trump wants to see the conflict de-escalate.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
-
While the levies on most countries were put on a 90-day pause a week later, those on China were pushed higher.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
In northeastern Australia, more than a year’s worth of rain fell in just one week in March, kicking off rare flooding and a massive transformation throughout the country’s arid outback.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2025
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But now, gin’s gone global, with new flavors popping up everywhere, from the Aussie outback to the U.S. West Coast.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
India evacuates thousands of people from villages near the highly militarized frontier in the Kashmir region.—
Riazat Butt,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
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Tour the Hickory Ridge History Museum, which highlights historic buildings and frontier skills such as weaving and blacksmithing.—
Melissa Oyler,
Charlotte Observer,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backland. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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