backbone

noun

ˈbak-ˈbōn How to pronounce backbone (audio)
Definition of backbonenext
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

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 But the business reality behind these global ambitions is that bridal couture remains the financial backbone for most Indian brands. — CNN Money, 30 July 2026 Ten million jobs are tied to cars, parts and dealers — the economic backbone of entire regions that have no obvious fallback. — Philipp Kampshoff, Fortune, 30 July 2026 Interlune co-founder and CEO Rob Meyerson said dependable excavation and autonomous mobility will form the backbone of permanent lunar infrastructure. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026 Within days, the anchor customers—including hospitals, schools, and air-navigation systems—were hardwired to a 100-Gb/s backbone. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for backbone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbone
  1. spine
  2. courage
  3. fortitude
  4. fiber
  5. stamina
  6. grit
  7. guts
  8. bravery
Noun
  • These imaging tests led doctors to find a previously unknown injury in her neck and spine.
    — Alexa Newsom, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • Her breath heated the back of my neck, just inches from my spine.
    — Todd Orr, Outdoor Life, 30 July 2026
Definition of spine
Noun
  • Many of the others, for now, either lack the courage of Klaveness or, quite simply, still have confidence in him.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • The Gryffindor must hone wisdom, the Hufflepuff courage, the Ravenclaw ambition and the Slytherin loyalty.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of courage
Noun
  • The five points of the star represent the characteristics of a good citizen, which are fortitude, loyalty, righteousness, prudence, and broadmindedness.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
  • In this scenario, Rogen would emerge as a courageous if idiosyncratic folk hero — one richly rewarded for his stoner fortitude.
    — Peter Bart, Deadline, 30 July 2026
Definition of fortitude
Noun
  • Papaya promotes gut health with its high fiber and water content.
    — Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Every data center requires reliable power, water, fiber connectivity, land, cooling systems and resilient transmission infrastructure.
    — Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of fiber
Noun
  • Within a week, Flaco had triumphed over the doubters who feared that an owl raised in captivity wouldn’t have the strength or stamina to survive in the outside world.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Standards call for consistency, repetition and competitive stamina when the thrill of the anticipation fades.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of stamina
Noun
  • His voice has weathered over the years, but that only added character to songs built on grit and honesty.
    — Jamie Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
  • Lacking sufficient grit, intimacy and visceral impact, the show offers little to hold onto that isn’t being done better on too many other current shows to list here.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Definition of grit
Noun
  • Mox shoved Rick Knox, who still didn’t have the guts or aptitude to call for a disqualification.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • It was underscored in the Tour’s final kilometers, a blur of hurt and lactic and guts over the Paris cobbles, swapping turns with Mathieu van der Poel towards a dream win on the Champs-Élysées.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of guts
Noun
  • The red, white and blue represent bravery, purity and loyalty, respectively.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
  • Two other female characters who grabbed viewers’ attention, eventually becoming symbols of bravery, transformation, and strength are Arya and Sansa—and yes those names became wildly popular among new parents, too.
    — Parents, Parents, 31 July 2026
Definition of bravery

Browse Nearby Words

backbiting
backbone
backboned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbone. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on backbone

Nglish: Translation of backbone for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about backbone

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