as in to aid
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
the Nobel-winning geneticist was of course backstopped in his research by a team of highly talented assistants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 backstop
The Trump administration’s hesitance to backstop Ukrainian and European security may be the jolt the EU needs to commit to working with Turkey.
—
Mustafa Kutlay, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
The White House has also insisted that Ukraine hold new presidential elections, and refused to field U.S. troops in Ukraine or backstop any peace plan that would require U.S. security guarantees.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2025
France and the United Kingdom, meanwhile, will need to think hard about how their nuclear forces can backstop the continent’s conventional forces in an independent European deterrence strategy.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2025
Now, Trevino is poised to backstop a promising young Reds team that has hopes of returning to the postseason under new manager Terry Francona — and will stick around beyond this season.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Mustafa Kutlay, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
The White House has also insisted that Ukraine hold new presidential elections, and refused to field U.S. troops in Ukraine or backstop any peace plan that would require U.S. security guarantees.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2025
France and the United Kingdom, meanwhile, will need to think hard about how their nuclear forces can backstop the continent’s conventional forces in an independent European deterrence strategy.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2025
Now, Trevino is poised to backstop a promising young Reds team that has hopes of returning to the postseason under new manager Terry Francona — and will stick around beyond this season.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstop
Verb
-
With that in mind, the company is working to deploy four super agents—one that’s geared toward customers, another that aids associates, a third that works alongside developers and a fourth that targets Walmart’s partners.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
24 July 2025
-
Earlier in the day, Gabbard shared a declassified House Intelligence Committee report, which found the United States intelligence community had no direct evidence Russia wanted to aid President Donald Trump in the 2016 election despite it pushing the claim under Obama’s direction.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
The Trump administration intends to house immigration detainees at a big South Jersey military base, naming it as one of two sites now certified to assist in the president's plan for mass deportations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 July 2025
-
Public health workers recommend individuals, businesses, and other organizations carry the drug to assist in an emergency.—
Christina Lengyel,
The Washington Examiner,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
Mark was disappointed, but the poster defended himself, saying he’s helped before and didn’t want to be taken for granted.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
27 July 2025
-
John Day editor-in-chief Richard Walsh and the celebrated writer Pearl S. Buck already had an author in mind for the book: twelve years earlier, Walsh and Buck had helped Chinese writer Lin Yutang to move to the United States, after Shanghai got too risky for the anticommunist liberal.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
26 July 2025
Verb
-
Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access.—
Leah Olajide,
Freep.com,
25 July 2025
-
Many shared examples of good practice across the sector, from organizations providing mental health support to those implementing fair pay transparency and supporting working parents.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstop. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share