as in inventories
a large number of jobs or items that are waiting to be finished or processed
We have a huge backlog of orders yet to be filled.
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Recent Examples of backlogs
And even without further funding cuts or staff reductions, these backlogs may only continue to grow as millions of student loan borrowers are forced to change repayment plans during the next several years under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
—
Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Most agencies have large backlogs of such requests.
—Byron Tau, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
This gave families valuable time and allowed more children to remain eligible as dependents, even amid long visa backlogs.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Its national accreditations limit how many autopsies each of those pathologists can do — a rule that’s designed to help keep the doctors from being overworked and error-prone but causes backlogs when there’s too much demand.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 26 Aug. 2025
The change has rocked small businesses and consumers, leaving many concerned about shipping backlogs and higher costs.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2025
But flat budgets have long plagued the service, leading to underfunded requirements, aging infrastructure, maintenance backlogs and lags in modernization, despite bipartisan efforts last year.
—Gidget Fuentes, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
The measures have created a climate of uncertainty and resulted in significant backlogs and delays at US embassies and consulates in key Asian markets.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Rather, officials argue, the program added to the immigration backlogs because 75,000 of the people who came on the parole program have applied for asylum.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2025
Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Most agencies have large backlogs of such requests.
—Byron Tau, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
This gave families valuable time and allowed more children to remain eligible as dependents, even amid long visa backlogs.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Its national accreditations limit how many autopsies each of those pathologists can do — a rule that’s designed to help keep the doctors from being overworked and error-prone but causes backlogs when there’s too much demand.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 26 Aug. 2025
The change has rocked small businesses and consumers, leaving many concerned about shipping backlogs and higher costs.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2025
But flat budgets have long plagued the service, leading to underfunded requirements, aging infrastructure, maintenance backlogs and lags in modernization, despite bipartisan efforts last year.
—Gidget Fuentes, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
The measures have created a climate of uncertainty and resulted in significant backlogs and delays at US embassies and consulates in key Asian markets.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Rather, officials argue, the program added to the immigration backlogs because 75,000 of the people who came on the parole program have applied for asylum.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backlogs
Noun
-
That may not have occurred yet, but today’s tariff costs don’t reach yesterday’s inventories.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Outside the Jeoffry section, the poem celebrates goats, wine, the King of Sardinia, the Postmaster General, and on and unpredictably on, compiling one of the more eccentric inventories of creation.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Greenwood State Beach unfolds below the bluff, a crescent of sand often empty but for driftwood piles and the occasional bonfire ring.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Many prefer soft beds or blankets, while others are drawn to unusual objects such as laundry piles, cardboard boxes, or even shoes.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In a dressing room near the amphitheatre on Little Island, a makeup artist (James Kaliardos, standing) was pouring his attention and a wealth of beauty supplies onto a countertenor (Anthony Roth Costanzo, seated).—
Henry Alford,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
And for those who enjoy the in-store shopping experience, select Party City locations nationwide continue to welcome customers who want to browse and pick up their party supplies in person.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The government has already collected $150 billion in tariffs through July 2025, with monthly collections now running at roughly $30 billion.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
That depends on the ultra group, but all of them collect membership dues, and many of them raise funds by producing calendars or fanzines, or otherwise holding collections on matchdays.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
See the full setlist here The music does a lot of the legwork, stadium-ready with massive, no-frills choruses begging to be sung back to him by hoards of devotees.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The gray hoards his food, making caches of acorns and other nuts or burying them in the ground.—
Charles Elliott,
Outdoor Life,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In this decade, sovereign wealth funds like Temasek (Vertex Holdings) and family offices have expanded their venture arms.—
Rich Karlgaard,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Expending taxpayer funds on a capital project without secured or approved funding is both fiscally irresponsible and a violation of sound budgeting practices.—
Penny Weaver,
Arkansas Online,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
However, after the Biden administration tapped into shell stockpiles to send to Ukraine, this source has dried up, too.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The international community placed a weapons embargo on both the Serbian and Bosnian military forces, but Serbia had access to the robust army and weapons stockpiles of the former Yugoslavia.—
Seema Jilani
August 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The track becomes Cardi’s eighth leader, which is one of the most impressive accumulations of champions of all time on Billboard’s ranking of the most successful songs at rap radio stations across the United States.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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The best storm thus far in the northern metro dropped one quarter inch of rain, so some accumulations up to this amount are possible with any stronger storms that develop.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backlogs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backlogs. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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