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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backwater
His fiction is set all over the place—genteel backwaters like Miami, Hollywood, and Atlantic City, with excursions as far afield as the Dominican Republic, Italy, and Israel.
—
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
At this flood stage, expect significant flooding in East End, California, and New Richmond in Ohio, with backwater floods in Silver Grove, KY, and riverfront buildings in Aurora, Indiana.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2025
Having set up this backwater office where nothing ever happens and then bring death to the door was a brilliant stroke.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 17 June 2025
In 2001, Michael Dorrell volunteered to move from the Sydney headquarters of Australian investment bank Macquarie to a backwater in its infrastructure investing specialty: the United States of America.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backwater
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
At this flood stage, expect significant flooding in East End, California, and New Richmond in Ohio, with backwater floods in Silver Grove, KY, and riverfront buildings in Aurora, Indiana.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2025
Having set up this backwater office where nothing ever happens and then bring death to the door was a brilliant stroke.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 17 June 2025
In 2001, Michael Dorrell volunteered to move from the Sydney headquarters of Australian investment bank Macquarie to a backwater in its infrastructure investing specialty: the United States of America.
—Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backwater
Noun
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When the Nazis occupied France, the family took refuge in the countryside.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Aug. 2025
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His family often had to hide in the bushes in the countryside — sometimes for days at a time — to escape rebel attacks.—
Sophia Li,
NPR,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The goal is to eventually send various sizes and types of spacecraft to a variety of destinations in the final frontier, using orbital transfer vehicles.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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The film centers on James Kettleman (Holloway), a hardened East Coast businessman who returns to the Montana frontier under the name Flint, the alias of the notorious killer who raised him.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Jablonski tried to run away but fell into some bushes when one of the officers pushed him.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Aug. 2025
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As newborns, the 10 puppies were tossed into a bush near the Mission Viejo Animal Service Center.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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This is higher than the 2.3% rate from a year ago but still well below the official rates set for any country.—
Raul Elizalde,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, Hoever has made 100 appearances on loan for three clubs in three countries in eight different competitions.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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One is that working class people from the American hinterlands simply lack the time, resources, and networks to gamble on a vocation with so little security.—
Lee Cole
June 17,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2025
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On the opposite shore of the lake, the Venetian denomination Bardolino DOC extends on the morainic hills of the hinterland.—
Elisabetta Tosi,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Australia Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is one of the best examples of the red desert landscapes found in the Australian outback.—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
25 July 2025
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Carolina Wilga, a German backpacker, was found alive after spending 12 days missing in the remote outback of Western Australia, according to local authorities.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backwater. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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