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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of backbone
He’s left us with an invaluable legacy and the backbone of our company: our values.
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Rob Wile, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
The enslaved also powered trades like construction and blacksmithing and served as the literal backbone of domestic work.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 3 Nov. 2024
Seasonal employees—who patrol treacherous rivers, maintain rocky climbing routes, and care for critical salmon fisheries—form the backbone of essential fieldwork and research, and are at the forefront.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024
Sherpas are more often than not the backbone of international mountaineering expeditions, hauling heavy gear and supplies up mountains and guiding people to high-altitude summits in dangerous conditions.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backbone 
Rob Wile, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024
The enslaved also powered trades like construction and blacksmithing and served as the literal backbone of domestic work.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 3 Nov. 2024
Seasonal employees—who patrol treacherous rivers, maintain rocky climbing routes, and care for critical salmon fisheries—form the backbone of essential fieldwork and research, and are at the forefront.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024
Sherpas are more often than not the backbone of international mountaineering expeditions, hauling heavy gear and supplies up mountains and guiding people to high-altitude summits in dangerous conditions.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backbone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbone
Noun
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The high, firm sides will keep your neck supported, and the flat back helps keep your spine aligned.Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
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The sound of a car suddenly pulling away sends a shock down his spine.Barry Levitt, TIME, 28 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Or in absorbing Laurie Anderson’s mesmerizing Amelia — her beauteous, immediate, dreaming of a woman whose courage took her into the void, and history.Matt Thompson, SPIN, 28 Nov. 2024
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This will require not only military readiness but also political courage and an understanding that security cannot be outsourced to international mechanisms or be contingent on the goodwill of others.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Despite his mental fortitude, Leroy isn’t a physical match for Tony.Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2024
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European leaders are backing Ukraine as a matter of self-defense, and for Harris to stand arm in arm with them would demonstrate far more fortitude than Trump.Linda Robinson, Foreign Affairs, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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This special identification technology ensures the authenticity and traceability of TENCEL™ fibers even after processing into textile products.SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 27 Nov. 2024
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Filled with shredded memory foam and a gel fiber core, the Drift is encased in a soft cotton cover protected by a water resistant outer shell.Kristin Shaw, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Anything that could use some extra strength and stamina from your arms would benefit.New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Nov. 2024
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Sisters, Tammy and Amy decide to do a 5K with their siblings, hoping to build their endurance and stamina before taking a family trip to London.Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The new term for this is grit, but it's also called discipline and persistence.Michael Brainard, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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Her performance becomes a celebration of not just her talent, but the grit and heart that have defined her journey.Walaa Elsiddig, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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There are other acts of bravery, like the way Rasoulof shows women indoors not wearing their veils, for once.Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2024
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At one point while in Oceania, Moana risks her life and earns a badge of honor (or partial demi-god status) as a result of her bravery.Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 26 Nov. 2024
Noun
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This guide will break down the car accident laws every driver should know, from fault determination to insurance requirements, legal liabilities, and what to do following an accident.Nia Bowers, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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Few modern artists do so much to persuade us that creative endeavor is a struggle—an anxious wrestling with the stubborn materials to hand, and a determination to plow on.Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Backbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbone. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.
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