as in to aid
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
the Nobel-winning geneticist was of course backstopped in his research by a team of highly talented assistants
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Recent Examples of backstop
Because the White House can subsidize lithium, Congress can fast-track permitting and the Pentagon can backstop rare earth processors, but if no one’s available to drill, blast, haul or refine, the whole thing falls apart.
—
Anthony Milewski, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Lawmakers voted earlier this week to kick in $50 million — drawing down about $100 million in federal matching funds — to backstop insurers, Conway said.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
European allies are working on options for a multinational security force that could backstop a peace deal.
—Jasmine Baehr , Liz Friden, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Kyiv’s European allies are looking to set up a force that could backstop any peace agreement, and a coalition of 30 countries, including European nations, Japan and Australia, has signed up to support the initiative.
—Sam McNeil, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Anthony Milewski, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Lawmakers voted earlier this week to kick in $50 million — drawing down about $100 million in federal matching funds — to backstop insurers, Conway said.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
European allies are working on options for a multinational security force that could backstop a peace deal.
—Jasmine Baehr , Liz Friden, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Kyiv’s European allies are looking to set up a force that could backstop any peace agreement, and a coalition of 30 countries, including European nations, Japan and Australia, has signed up to support the initiative.
—Sam McNeil, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstop
Verb
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The new album’s first-week sales were aided by its availability across five vinyl variants (including one signed), two CD iterations (one of them signed), alongside a standard digital download album.—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
2 Nov. 2025
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He was put on another inhibitor, this time a MEK inhibitor, to aid in tumor shrinkage.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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He was assisted off the field before being carted into the locker room, and returned to the sideline a short time later with his right foot in a protective boot and on crutches.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Nov. 2025
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The British Transport Police are being assisted by the Counter Terrorism Police amid their investigation, according to the BTP news release.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For example, Smith said, in a major city during a holiday weekend, Prepared’s technology helped reduce the number of emergency calls operators had to handle by by 33% because AI was able to deal with non-critical calls like noise complaints.—
Julie Coleman,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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Han says the funds raised through the Hong Kong listing will help the robotaxi firm continue to spend on R&D and deployment.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Chairwoman Robyn Denholm urged shareholders to support it, warning in a letter Monday that the company risks losing significant value if the deal fails and Musk opts to step down as chief executive.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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Boone is currently on the international leg of his tour supporting his second studio album American Heart.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstop. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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