Thesaurus
Synonyms & Antonyms of backbone
1
a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal
- found the backbone of a fish lying on the beach
Synonyms for backbone
Words Related to backbone
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 for backbone
Words Related to backbone
Near Antonyms for backbone
Antonyms for backbone
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about backbone
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
Book Anatomy Words: Quire, Colophon,...
Book Anatomy Words: Quire, Colophon, and More
There are a lot of chapters in this collection.
Thesaurus Entries near backbone
See More Nearby EntriesCite this Entry
“Backbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbone. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on backbone
What made you want to look up backbone? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Name that Thing: Flower Edition
-
- Name that flower
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share backbone
Time Traveler for backbone
The first known use of backbone was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century