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
As search after search came up dry, mathematicians eventually ran out of steam, and the problem became a backwater.
—
Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 5 May 2025
The folksy 72-year-old Louisianan has been training horses since 1991 and has had success, but mostly with cheap horses running for small prizes in racing’s backwaters.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 4 May 2025
Shad like to gather in dense shoals in river backwaters, especially areas with warm water outflows from industrial operations, according to the DNR.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2025
The setup is also familiar but effective: A water conflict on a backwater planet.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backwater
Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 5 May 2025
The folksy 72-year-old Louisianan has been training horses since 1991 and has had success, but mostly with cheap horses running for small prizes in racing’s backwaters.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 4 May 2025
Shad like to gather in dense shoals in river backwaters, especially areas with warm water outflows from industrial operations, according to the DNR.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2025
The setup is also familiar but effective: A water conflict on a backwater planet.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for backwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backwater
Noun
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About a bunch of incredibly good-looking people having a great time in the Italian countryside, the film stars Branagh, Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Keaton, Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves and Denzel Washington.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
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It’s built on a story about a couple fleeing the city to live out the end of the world together in the countryside.—
Eamon Whalen,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Robotics pioneer Rodney Brooks, former head of the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab and a founder of iRobot, knows from decades of building real-world applications from frontier technologies, that to be widely adopted, even the most clever tools must leave room for humans.—
Gabriel Snyder,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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Retirement, commonly referred to as the golden years, is the final frontier.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
22 June 2025
Noun
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In November, when the trees and bushes around the home were bare, police returned to search the surrounding area but again could not find her.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 June 2025
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The British soldiers fought in red uniforms with orderly precision and methodical execution; Marion fought in camouflage from trees and bushes.—
Chip Bell,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Noun
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The Republican president earlier told reporters that the U.S. was soon preparing to send letters to different countries, informing them of the new tariff rate his administration would impose on them.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 June 2025
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Globally, several countries are reportedly considering nationwide bans on cellphones during school hours.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
Noun
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The film gathers immoral cops, ruthless women and corrupt politicians to complete the world of populist cinema based in hinterlands of India.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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Oklahoma City and Indianapolis are out-of-the-way markets, their stars don’t move the needle, a Finals in the (supposed) hinterlands will send the national TV ratings into the tank, etc.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
6 June 2025
Noun
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In northeastern Australia, more than a year’s worth of rain fell in just one week in March, kicking off rare flooding and a massive transformation throughout the country’s arid outback.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2025
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But now, gin’s gone global, with new flavors popping up everywhere, from the Aussie outback to the U.S. West Coast.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backwater. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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