Find the synonyms or antonyms of a word
Antonyms for backwater
Grammar : Noun, verb |
Spell : bak-waw-ter, -wot-er |
Phonetic Transcription : ˈbækˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər |
- accelerate
- advance
- agitate
- aid
- allow
- approve
- assist
- develop
- do
- enact
- encourage
- enforce
- enlarge
- establish
- excite
- expand
- expedite
- extend
- facilitate
- forward
- further
- grow
- help
- increase
- institute
- keep
- legalize
- lengthen
- liberate
- metropolis
- permit
- prolong
- push
- raise
- ratify
- release
- sanction
- strengthen
- support
- uphold
- validate
Definition of backwater
Origin :- late 14c., "water behind a dam," from back (adj.) + water (n.). Hence flat water without a current near a flowing river, as in a mill race (1820); figurative use of this for any flat, dull place is from 1899.
- As in bayou : noun swampy outlet
- As in frontier : noun unexplored, unoccupied area of land
- As in rescind : verb declare null and void
- As in slow : verb delay, restrict
- The sun had set, and the backwater, in deep shadow, was filling with a gentle haze.
- Extract from : « Howards End » by E. M. Forster
- Was it the backwater of my disgrace, I wonder, that has overwhelmed poor Gill?'
- Extract from : « Lord Kilgobbin » by Charles Lever
- Then he had seemed to himself in the backwater, out of the throng of existence.
- Extract from : « The Arbiter » by Lady F. E. E. Bell
- He came to the island, and let his boat slide into the backwater.
- Extract from : « The Dark Flower » by John Galsworthy
- The backwater was not a happy place—they would not stay there a single minute.
- Extract from : « The Dark Flower » by John Galsworthy
- The underlying principle of a world's backwater like this is restful stagnation.
- Extract from : « The Belovd Vagabond » by William J. Locke
- The room faced the backwater of traffic, and was very silent.
- Extract from : « The Forsyte Saga, Complete » by John Galsworthy
- The weir had not been on the main stream, but they had come upon it in exploring a backwater.
- Extract from : « The Invader » by Margaret L. Woods
- Why, you both look as you did that night the backwater of the South Fork came into our cabin.
- Extract from : « The Three Partners » by Bret Harte
- In the hot summer days the backwater of a mill is a place beloved of many.
- Extract from : « The Thames » by G. E. Mitton
Synonyms for backwater
- abate
- abolish
- abrogate
- anchor it
- annul
- back out of
- back-water
- backcountry
- backpedal
- backwater
- backwoods
- bog down
- boondocks
- boonies
- brake
- brook
- bush
- call off
- cancel
- check
- choke
- countermand
- crawl out of
- creek
- curb
- curtail
- cut back
- cut down
- decelerate
- decrease
- detain
- diminish
- dismantle
- ease off
- ease up
- embog
- forget
- handicap
- hinder
- hinterland
- hit the brakes
- hold back
- hold up
- impede
- invalidate
- keep waiting
- lag
- lessen
- let down flaps
- lift
- loiter
- lose speed
- lose steam
- mire
- moderate
- nix
- outback
- outlet
- outskirts
- overturn
- postpone
- procrastinate
- pull the plug
- qualify
- quash
- quiet
- recall
- reduce
- reduce speed
- reef
- regulate
- rein in
- relax
- remove
- renege
- repeal
- retard
- retardate
- retract
- reverse
- revoke
- river
- scrub
- set aside
- set back
- slacken
- stall
- sticks
- stream
- stunt
- temper
- unknown
- void
- wangle out
- weasel out
- wind down
- X-out
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019