Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar, this morning, said a time-limited backstop would be unacceptable, and has previously promised to vote down the UK’s Brexit withdrawal deal unless it features a satisfactory backstop.
Source: wiktionary
Backstop
/ˈbæk.stɒp/
Synonyms for "backstop" (138 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (28)
Strong matches (41)
Related words (69)
knee guardknuckle guardlaminated glassleaping weirleveelife preserverlifelinelightning conductorlightning rodlogjammaskmilldammoatmolemoundmudguardnose guardpadpaddingpalladium
Show 36 more words
parapetpatentpilotportcullispreventiveprophylacticprotective clothingprotective umbrellarampartroadblockrock-fill damsafeguardsafetysafety glasssafety plugsafety railsafety shoessafety switchsafety valvescreenseat beltseawallshieldshin guardshutter damside withstone wallsun helmetumbrellaupholdwallweirwicket damwindscreenwindshieldwork
Noun(13 words)
mitigatenetsafeguardsafety netsafety screenscreensponsorstabilizesupportunderpinunderwriteunderwriterunderwriting
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: advocate, aegis, arch dam, arm guard, back.
- Sentence evidence is available for backstop, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "backstop".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "backstop"
Keep "backstop" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "backstop" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "backstop", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "backstop" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesShowing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
12 entriesCollocations
10 entriesbackstop agreementbackstop arrangementbackstop facilitybackstop measurebackstop mechanismcredit backstopemergency backstopfinancial backstopfiscal backstopliquidity backstop
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
6 total sentences available.
"The 2½ years since have been about hammering home these points in any European capital that would listen. And in spite of capacity-sapping talks on the first point – Brexit, border and backstop – the Department of Foreign Affairs and other government departments have been working quietly to make good on the second.
Source: wiktionary
Bench may be the greatest catcher subjectively, but he's not statistically. Statwise, Yogi Berra is the all-time backstop, regardless of which measure you prefer. Berra's Total-Z is one-third of a standard deviation higher than Bench's, and his Core-Z average is a point better.
Source: wiktionary
[…] to be set up in Indonesia with a phony book and school supplies company established in New York City as a backstop.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "backstop"?
Closest matches include advocate, aegis, arch dam, arm guard, back.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "backstop"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.