backbone

1 a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal found the backbone of a fish lying on the beach Synonyms spine, chine, spinal column, vertebral columnRelated Words back, spinal cord, vertebra

2 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 fortitude, constancy, fiber, grit, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, pluck, spunkRelated Words determination, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution; bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valor; endurance, forbearance, stamina, sufferance, tolerance; heart, mettle, spirit; audacity, boldness, brass, cheek, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), effrontery, gall, hardihood, nerve, nerviness, temerityNear Antonyms indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation; cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faintheartedness, pusillanimity, timidity, timorousnessAntonyms spinelessness