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
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Recent Examples of backbone
But to me, nowhere else does the food feel so closely tied to the place—and to the backbone of American farming.
—
Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
The international travelers arrive as the nation's public health backbone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, doesn't have a full-time leader and has faced devastating cuts.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 6 June 2026
As a whole, themes of faith (in its various interpretations), perseverance and gratitude form the emotional backbone of Grateful.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
The same company that helped build highways and cities for a century is now helping build the backbone of the next industrial boom.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for backbone
Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
The international travelers arrive as the nation's public health backbone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, doesn't have a full-time leader and has faced devastating cuts.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 6 June 2026
As a whole, themes of faith (in its various interpretations), perseverance and gratitude form the emotional backbone of Grateful.
—Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
The same company that helped build highways and cities for a century is now helping build the backbone of the next industrial boom.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for backbone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbone
Noun
-
Encumbered by antlers up to four feet tall and forty pounds in weight, a bull raises its immense jaws, antlers tilted toward his spine, and races through the woods until reaching safer ground.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
It will be built around a spine of Jordan Pickford, John Stones and Harry Kane, just like the sides Southgate took to the previous two World Cups in Russia and Qatar.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
As the moon joins forces with Neptune, inspiration returns in flashes, but its sextile to Uranus supports fresh ideas, emotional breakthroughs and the courage to try something new.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
-
Strategic courage under uncertainty.—
Carolyn Dewar,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The Spurs responded with their best game of the series, a 115-111 win that required lots of mental fortitude and, in the end, sent Knicks fans home quiet.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
-
Tate projected a credo of masculine excellence that revolved around self-discipline, physical prowess, and mental fortitude.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
And nuts — almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts — along with vegetables like artichokes, broccoli and eggplant round out a diet where fiber shows up naturally at breakfast, lunch and dinner.—
Ryan Brennan
June 9,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
-
Potatoes are generally considered a more healthful option than rice due to their lower calorie content and higher fiber, iron, potassium, and vitamin B6 content.—
Brittany Lubeck,
Verywell Health,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Powershift is trying the 10-furlong distance for the first time, but his pedigree screams stamina.—
Teresa Genaro,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
But a new book by former first lady Jill Biden suggests that these reassuring portraits of an octogenarian president with enviable stamina were embellished.—
Kaylah Jackson,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Renegade is a closer, and Pletcher has been open about how much grit his horse showed in the Derby, righting himself to run a game second after suffering a few bumps in the early traffic.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Saucy shrimp with the just-right amount of Cajun spice served over creamy cheese grits are truly a match made in heaven.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Five lining it up with four, leaving your guts and your heart out there.—
Tim Willert,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
No formula or spreadsheet measures guts.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
City leaders commended the bravery of the emergency personnel who performed the search during large surf, powerful currents and limited underwater visibility.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
Andrew Johns, one of rugby league's greatest players, said the bravery Evans had shown would be encouraging for other people.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbone. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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