1
as in spine
a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal
found the backbone of a fish lying on the beach
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in courage
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship
it takes backbone to stand up to the kind of suffering that some cancer patients must endure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backbone
As songwriters, the Ottavianos usually only needed a metaphor, a single beautiful image, or a fun double entendre to serve as narrative backbones.
—
Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 26 Apr. 2026
In 2022, Starlink was deployed in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion disrupted terrestrial networks, quickly becoming a critical backbone for both civilian and military communications.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Monica’s mortification that summer of ’98 forms the backbone of Julia Langbein’s latest novel Dear Monica Lewinsky, out this month from Doubleday.
—Lilyanna D'amato, ARTnews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Silky tannins form a sturdy backbone that supports flavors of black raspberry, jalapeño, and black cherry.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backbone
Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 26 Apr. 2026
In 2022, Starlink was deployed in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion disrupted terrestrial networks, quickly becoming a critical backbone for both civilian and military communications.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Monica’s mortification that summer of ’98 forms the backbone of Julia Langbein’s latest novel Dear Monica Lewinsky, out this month from Doubleday.
—Lilyanna D'amato, ARTnews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Silky tannins form a sturdy backbone that supports flavors of black raspberry, jalapeño, and black cherry.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backbone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbone
Noun
-
That disorienting time shift, into the far harsher historical world of 1855, Idaho, is what gives Burke’s book not just its spine but its compelling narrative shape.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The knee pillow is designed to help align the spine and reduce pressure on hips, knees, and joints for side sleepers.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The courage to make those choices and keep moving forward is what has defined my journey.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But when a mysterious aircraft sinks into the ocean, Ally’s peaceful world is suddenly thrown into danger and is thrust into a journey real-life marine creatures as the film explores themes of friendship and courage.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The First Eight's legacies of resistance and resolve, promise and purpose, faith and fortitude, continue to motivate me every day and in every way.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The level of intense feelings that anchor the show requires mental fortitude, yes, but also open-hearted candor.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nike had unveiled a radically new design for Breaking2, incorporating a curved carbon-fiber plate into a thick wedge of springy midsole foam, which external lab data suggested would make runners several percent faster.—
Alex Hutchinson,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Charlotte Observer spoke to North Carolina doctors about how to mitigate your colon cancer risk by eating less red meat, less ultraprocessed food and more fiber.—
Eva Flowe
April 28,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One had to marvel at Springsteen’s stamina.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Any editor can tell you—visiting Milan for Salone del Mobile and all of its surrounding events is an exercise in stamina.—
The Editors of AD,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hard work, vision, grit all got her there.—
Wendy Naugle,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Philadelphia embodied the grit of a city on Friday night.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Fossils from these most special locations not only show body outlines and external textures but also preserve details from appendages and internal organs, from eyes and gills to guts and nerve networks.—
Marlowe Starling,
Quanta Magazine,
1 May 2026
-
In a paper published on Thursday in Science, researchers describe how hydrogenobodies in rumen ciliates in the guts of dairy cows remove oxygen and produce hydrogen—which other microbes then use to make methane.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During my visit to New York, my wife and I will again pay our respects to the victims, the families, and the bravery shown in the face of terrible loss.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The key cabin crew are flight attendants Penny (Lucy Barrett) and Zoe (Na Shi), both of whom demonstrate bravery, to different ends, and show caring attention to the terrified children.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbone. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
