ˈbækˌʌp ˈkʌmfətə ˈkʌmfəɹtəɹ ˈsʌbstɪtʃuːt ˈsʌbstɪtut a pitcher who does not start the game a person who reduces the intensity (e.g., of fears) and calms and pacifies a reliever of anxiety an allayer of fears someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult) the star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes we need extra employees for summer fill-ins