backboned

adjective

Definition of backbonednext
as in strong

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backboned
  1. strong
  2. tough
  3. firm
  4. principled
  5. virtuous
  6. hard
  7. moral
  8. upright
Adjective
  • Davis delivered a strong preseason, but he is now likely headed to a redshirt rookie season unless injuries strike at tackle.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • There’s no denying that the fall 2026 runways made a strong case for color; even the street style scene is on board, slipping into colorful shoes and sporting handbags in a variety of vibrant shades—baby pink, chartreuse, and cobalt.
    — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • The war, and in particular Iran’s direct targeting of the Gulf, makes this approach a tough pill to swallow.
    — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The conversation shifted from tougher ordinances toward resource allocation and investing in third spaces, which are places outside of work, school or home.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • The increasing chances of being taken, whether one is in a church, mosque, school, on a trip to the capital Abuja or resting at home, is a grim reality that should not be the case given Tinubu’s firm campaign pledges.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • It’s made with Alaria seaweed to improve skin’s elasticity and give it a firmer look, while a blend of natural oils leaves the skin feeling smooth as a siren song.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of firm
Adjective
  • He was bounced before the fourth quarter and acted like a principled victim.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Tricontinental’s history offers a more nuanced and principled political position, one that opposes oppression in any form and that places self-determination for all people at the heart of its politics.
    — Anne Garland Mahler, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of principled
Adjective
  • The United States will establish deterrence and therefore reduce risks, creating a virtuous cycle in which Americans can begin to have greater confidence in a bioresilient future.
    — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Recurring donors aren’t more virtuous than grant-makers or gala guests, but their money is directed toward the real and true issue.
    — Sarah Evans, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of virtuous
Adjective
  • Michael Mankins and Matthew Crupi want value maximization back as the objective, with stakeholder commitments as hard or soft constraints.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Hrgović landed one, two, three hard right hands late in the round.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of hard
Adjective
  • Framed as an ensemble drama rather than the story of a single heroic whistleblower, the production compresses Ibsen’s plot, reimagines the ending and leans into satire without sacrificing moral bite.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Commentators hungry for superstar validation of their culture war were calling her silence a moral failure, and some of them were the same people who, in previous news cycles, had insisted that athletes needed to shut up.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of moral
Adjective
  • Shawn Ryan Tackling a distance like that will need considerably more solar area, but Ryan has ruled out the obvious fix of simply widening his current upright bike and plastering it with panels.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Once the arms and back were bolted in place, the chair was ready to flip upright.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of upright
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.

Browse Nearby Words

backbone
backboned
backbones
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Cite this Entry

“Backboned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backboned. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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