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

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

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

The actively inclined had to pass through the gate in the hedge, and there, by turning to the left, they would find a back-water with a whole village of boat-houses.

From Daisy's Aunt by Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic)

Fenton stepped out of the little back-water in which Gaffney's place lay, and into the full flood of the glittering, high-smelling avenue.

From Ashton-Kirk, Criminologist by McIntyre, John T.

back-water

Example Sentences

Related Words