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 Without the aid of cold water, officials are electrofishing and netting in the river to remove invasives, and are considering dosing some sloughs and backwaters in the first miles below the dam with fish-killing chemicals. — Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Fully restored to its original glory, the mansion is located on the banks of the backwaters of Kerala, and is only accessible by boat from the mainland. — Rumit Mehta, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026 The movie goes from this weird, seedy love motel to the industrial backwaters, and these long walks and talks down empty streets. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026 Thoughtfully constructed in 2002 to honor the natural environment, the Murphy River Walk traces the banks of the Hiwassee and Valley Rivers, where the two rivers converge to create the backwaters of Lake Hiwassee. — Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 26 May 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
  • Another theory is that with the fall harvest nearly complete, now is a relatively safe time to deport farmworkers in the countryside without immediately worrying about empty shelves in supermarkets, Mejia said.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Oakley, who previously directed the 2022 drama Blue Jean, has a deft touch with the material and a deep respect for the English countryside setting.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of countryside
Noun
  • Shilov noted that an emerging problem in the AI ecosystem is that basically anyone doing interesting safety work is likely to be contracted by frontier labs, potentially compromising their work.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The founders intend to keep testing new frontiers, with one tweak to the company’s leadership ranks.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of frontier
Noun
  • Just before dusk, four or five does walked under the tree, and then a four-point buck followed, stopping beneath me to rub his antlers on a bush.
    — Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Tortoises routinely seek shade under dense bushes, vanish into mangroves, or shelter from the scorching equatorial sun.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of bush
Noun
  • The country currently exports about 80% of its electricity to other Asian countries like Thailand, China, and Singapore.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • International funding, Patil says, means long waits, complicated contracts and co-production treaties, and Indian filmmakers end up chasing the same grants as professionals from wealthier countries.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • In the hinterlands of Patagonia, ranching outposts tend to share a common set of features.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • His solo debut, Heavy Metal, landed softly in the December hinterlands of 2024, and with it a murmuration of these little fibs.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of hinterland
Noun
  • In the sparsely populated Australian outback, help takes time to arrive.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • For a uniquely Australian experience, extend your trip inland with a stay at one of the region’s vast outback stations.
    — Stuart Rigg, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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