as in aids
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 backstops
Senior goalkeeper Giada McGlynn backstops a defense led by juniors Payton Cable, Sophia Duncan and Kasey Glynn and sophomore Sahana Raju.
—
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstops
Verb
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The addition of spoken word passages by local Geordie poet Cooper Robson, who drifts through balladic descriptions of community, working-class masculinity, and pickled onions, aids Knats in their explorations of their hometown.—
Archie Forde,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
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Under Florida law, anyone who aids, abets or counsels someone in the commission of a crime may be considered a principal in the first degree.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Detroit immediately went on a 6-0 run with three straight Jalen Duren dunks off Cade Cunningham assists and never looked back.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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The second app, called Beyond the Match and managed by afternoon students, assists hospitality employees.—
Janice Phelan,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Verb
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When the Moon enters Taurus, stillness helps the truth feel safe enough to trust.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
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There’s a world where that actually helps reduce pressure and expectations on the filmmakers, which is often the challenge with indies.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backstops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstops. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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