backwater

noun

ˈbak-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce backwater (audio)
Definition of backwaternext
as in countryside
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country a distant backwater that didn't even have electricity at that time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 backwater For decades, seabed cartography was a scientific backwater. — Natalie Sum Yue Chung, Fortune, 3 May 2026 Bolon also warned drivers about the difference between backwater flooding upstream and rushing water. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026 Some of the coolest crappie fishing of the year occurs in backwaters that are easily accessible by foot. — Cory Schmidt, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026 Gold transformed Victoria from a pastoral backwater into the most celebrated colony of the empire. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for backwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backwater
  1. countryside
  2. frontier
  3. bush
  4. country
  5. hinterland
  6. outback
Noun
  • Relaxed pants like this pair are perfect for a long bus tour through the countryside or for wearing out to dinner—they’ll look polished without feeling uncomfortable.
    — Erin Cavoto, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
  • There are 22 rooms here, a variety of suites and doubles, with views of the gardens or countryside in the distance.
    — Jonathan Samuels, TheWeek, 17 July 2026
Definition of countryside
Noun
  • These announcements show interest from frontier model developers and hyperscale cloud providers, but they should not be interpreted as identical or as immediate purchase orders.
    — Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • As JPMorganChase put it in a recent report, China possesses important strengths in the AI race, including its robust support for open-source AI ecosystems, despite America’s leadership in frontier models, semiconductor design, and AI financing.
    — James Marks, Fortune, 23 July 2026
Definition of frontier
Noun
  • Juniper trees, myrtle bushes, vineyards, and aromatic herbs flourish under the influence of the Maestrale, the strong northwesterly wind that sweeps across Sardinia year-round.
    — Layne Randolph, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Late spring and early summer have some of the best weather for hiking, while fall is when certain trees and bushes turn shades of orange, yellow, and red, making for a colorful in-park experience.
    — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
Definition of bush
Noun
  • The tapestry of nationalities that make up this country were able to support their teams in the greatest sporting event on Earth.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • After 104 games across three countries over five and a half weeks, the 23rd edition of the men’s World Cup was down to its closing stages.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • The four siblings – Anna, Jack, middle brother Ed (Callum Turner) and younger brother Robert (Lukas Gage) – are all adult and all still living at the family home, a modernist property in the hinterlands of Catalonia, Spain.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Indeed, Ukrainian strikes on oil infrastructure have created major gas shortages that are bedeviling much of the Russian hinterland.
    — Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 30 June 2026
Definition of hinterland
Noun
  • Broken Hill Those traveling between Sydney and Adelaide will stop at this outback mining town, which has some of the world’s largest silver, lead, and zinc mineral deposits.
    — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
  • Observe black cockatoos preen in the drooping she-oaks, or marvel at the Dali-esque outback, filled with its skeletal mallee trees.
    — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
Definition of outback

Browse Nearby Words

backwashes
backwater
backwoods
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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