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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backstop
As is normal in our current system, additional firefighters from outside the local area arrived to backstop the initial responders when they were exhausted after their 24- or 48-hour shifts.
—
Jay Balagna, The Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2025
European powers, therefore, will need to ramp up their investments in European defense industries to credibly backstop any security guarantees offered to Ukraine.
—Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2024
Initially, experts from major reinsurance companies that backstop the insurance industry had predicted the potential of $3 billion to $6 billion in damages before the hurricane landed.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Half of the proceeds will be used to backstop local governments, while the other half will encourage spending by households and businesses.
—Nick Sargen, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Jay Balagna, The Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2025
European powers, therefore, will need to ramp up their investments in European defense industries to credibly backstop any security guarantees offered to Ukraine.
—Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2024
Initially, experts from major reinsurance companies that backstop the insurance industry had predicted the potential of $3 billion to $6 billion in damages before the hurricane landed.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Half of the proceeds will be used to backstop local governments, while the other half will encourage spending by households and businesses.
—Nick Sargen, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backstop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstop
Verb
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Both artists earmarked the royalties from the song to aid the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention organization.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
7 Apr. 2025
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On Friday, Adams and Duffy went underground, boarding the BQE line in Brooklyn and riding the subway into Manhattan alongside NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta as the federal government vows to aid the city with its crime prevention.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Aleksander Barkov assists on both Reinhart goals to increase his total to 51 on the season.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
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Doctor Who historians know Marsh for her portrayal of Sara Kingdom, who ably assists William Hartnell’s Doctor in his fight against the mutant Daleks, on the third season of the BBC sci-fi series in 1965-66.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Please help show my baby that other badass women are out there!—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2025
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For example, whenever one of the kids had a spelling bee, everyone in the car would help recite the words.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The survey, conducted in late March among 1,500 voters, found that, while 83% of Democrats support financial assistance to Kyiv, 79% of Republicans oppose it.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The organization supports the youth of St. Thomas through basketball mentorships.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backstop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstop. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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