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
The energy crunch is also driving up costs and threatening Bangladesh’s garment exports, the backbone of its economy, business leaders say.
—
Julhas Alam, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Anti-gang units, officials say, form the backbone of the department’s crime fighting efforts in neighborhoods plagued by gang violence.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Nowhere is that power more evident than in Florida’s nursing centers, where nurses serve as the backbone of quality, continuity, and dignity in care.
—Dawn Chery-Mangine, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Forty-five percent mentioned machine learning as the analytical backbone for prediction, forecasting, and decision intelligence.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for backbone
Julhas Alam, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Anti-gang units, officials say, form the backbone of the department’s crime fighting efforts in neighborhoods plagued by gang violence.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
Nowhere is that power more evident than in Florida’s nursing centers, where nurses serve as the backbone of quality, continuity, and dignity in care.
—Dawn Chery-Mangine, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Forty-five percent mentioned machine learning as the analytical backbone for prediction, forecasting, and decision intelligence.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for backbone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbone
Noun
-
An autopsy found that Williams was killed by gunfire from Blanchette’s rifle that struck her neck and spine, according to the report.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
Responding officers found Ross Falzone, a Manhattan resident, on the subway stairs with head injuries and a fractured spine.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
By evening, the Aries Moon moves through your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, bringing courage around commitments, money, or deeper trust.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
Beneath the spectacle lies a story about longing, ambition, connection and the courage to challenge a broken system.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
For Garcia, that sense of something built by instinct and fortitude is part of what makes the next chapter feel so charged.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Like my predecessors, my life has been grounded in faith and fortitude.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Together, oats and almonds create balanced nutrition, combining fiber, protein, and healthy fats for lasting fullness and all-day energy.—
Brianna Tobritzhofer,
Health,
12 May 2026
-
Most were transparent, blue or black fibers made from materials like polyester — consistent with earlier findings on microplastic pollution in the Amazon.—
Ryan Brennan
May 12,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Training to Be Ellie Houston The performance has been months in the making, with Ellie deep in rehearsals and training to get her stamina half-time ready.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
9 May 2026
-
Used for stress, focus, fatigue, and stamina (NCCIH).—
Ryan Brennan
May 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Any number of other Knicks played the hero, willing the team to a gutsy victory, showing sudden grit after so many easy blowouts.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
Yet even today, the grit and determination Dede instilled in her son hasn’t left her.—
Gigi Zamora,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Allin, showing his guts, kept his pursuit of glory.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
That hole in my guts would have been partially filled.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Hannah Einbinder speaks about the cowardice of Hollywood on the Gaza genocide contrasted with Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s bravery.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
12 May 2026
-
There is still so much decency, intelligence, curiosity, kindness, and bravery among the people who work (or worked, before they were fired) in our government.—
Time,
Time,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbone. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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