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Showing results for back-water. Search instead for Back-wages.
Definitions

back-water

VERB
slow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate curb curtail decelerate decrease diminish hinder impede lag lessen moderate reduce relax retard slacken stall temper
STRONG
brake check choke detain loiter mire postpone procrastinate qualify quiet reef regulate stunt
WEAK
anchor it bog down cut back cut down ease off ease up embog hit the brakes hold back hold up keep waiting let down flaps lose speed lose steam reduce speed rein in set back wind down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance agitate aid allow assist develop encourage enlarge excite expand extend facilitate forward further grow help increase lengthen prolong push raise strengthen
STRONG
accelerate do expedite liberate release

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"When he was coming up, it definitely was a back-water kind of practice," said Lavin.

From Chicago Tribune • Jun. 12, 2012

In 1914, when intelligence-testers began to impress the nation, Principal Persis K. Miller of Locust Point's public school asked Johns Hopkins' Psychiatrist Adolf Meyer to survey the community, a social back-water of Baltimore.

From Time Magazine Archive

Municipal government has long been regarded as the great back-water of American democracy: a world of political patronage and special-interest jockeying in which policy discussions rarely move beyond synchronizing traffic lights.

From Time Magazine Archive

He launched out in the direction of a bank and kicked back-water schoolward.

From A Canadian Bankclerk by Buschlen, J. P.

“Good!” grunted Tom May softly, and he thrust away steadily a little and a little, while the two who held the stout ash blades on the other side began to back-water.

From Hunting the Skipper The Cruise of the "Seafowl" Sloop by Piffard, Harold