backwater

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: back=wa=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

backwater, n. [Back, a. or adv. + -water. ].

•  Water turned back in its course by an obstruction, an opposing current, or the flow of the tide, as in a sewer or river channel, or across a river bar.  [1913 Webster]
•  An accumulation of water overflowing the low lands, caused by an obstruction.  [1913 Webster]
•  Water thrown back by the turning of a waterwheel, or by the paddle wheels of a steamer.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

backwater, n.
1 a place or condition remote from the centre of activity or thought.
2 stagnant water fed from a stream.

THESAURUS

backwater

Charybdis, Maelstrom, abjure, arrest, back, back away, back down, back off, back out, back stream, back up, backcountry, backflow, backpedal, backtrack, backtrail, backwash, backwoods, boondocks, brake, bush, check, climb down, clip the wings, countercurrent, counterflow, counterflux, countermarch, crawfish out, cry off, curb, decelerate, delay, deny, detain, disavow, disclaim, disown, dodge, draw rein, duck, ease off, ease up, eat crow, eat humble pie, eddy, elude, evade, forswear, get around, go astern, go into reverse, gulf, gurge, hinterland, hold back, hold in check, hold up, impede, keep back, let down, let up, lose ground, lose momentum, lose speed, maelstrom, make sternway, moderate, obstruct, recant, reef, refluence, reflux, regurgitation, rein in, relax, renege, renounce, repudiate, resile, retard, retract, reverse, revoke, set back, shirk, sidestep, slack off, slack up, slacken, slow, slow down, slow up, stay, sticks, swallow, swirl, take back, take in sail, throttle down, twirl, unsay, up-country, vortex, welsh, whirl, whirlpool, withdraw

ROGET THESAURUS

backwater

Regression

N regress, regression, retrocession, retrogression, retrograduation, retroaction, reculade, retreat, withdrawal, retirement, remigration, recession, recess, crab-like motion, refluence, reflux, backwater, regurgitation, ebb, return, resilience reflection, reflexion (recoil), flip-flop, volte-face, counter motion, retrograde motion, backward movement, motion in reverse, counter movement, counter march, veering, tergiversation, recidivation, backsliding, fall, deterioration, recidivism, recidivity, reversal, relapse, turning point, receding, retrograde, retrogressive, regressive, refluent, reflex, recidivous, resilient, crab-like, balky, reactionary, back, backwards, reflexively, to the right about, a reculons, a rebours, revenons a nos moutons, as you were.

VB recede, regrade, return, revert, retreat, retire, retrograde, retrocede, back out, back down, balk, crawfish, crawl, withdraw, rebound, go back, come back, turn back, hark back, draw back, fall back, get back, put back, run back, lose ground, fall astern, drop astern, backwater, put about, backtrack, take the back track, veer round, double, wheel, countermarch, ebb, regurgitate, jib, shrink, shy, turn tail, turn round, turn upon one's heel, turn one's back upon, retrace one's steps, dance the back step, sound a retreat, beat a retreat, go home.