dorsal

adjective

Definition of dorsalnext
as in rear

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 dorsal Another stealth feature is the dorsal air inlets on the upper surface of the fuselage. — David Szondy april 21, New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2026 Unlike the vast majority of frog species that rely on water for egg development, this miniature amphibian uses a dorsal pouch to carry and nurture its young. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026 Unlike most frog species that rely on water for egg development, this species uses a dorsal pouch to carry and nurture its young. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2026 The two Spinosaurus species, which were contemporaneous, shared the same general body plan including long dorsal spines forming the sail-like structure and a skull adapted for hunting fish. — Reuters, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dorsal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dorsal
  1. rear
  2. posterior
  3. back
  4. aft
Adjective
  • Gunther battled back and finally put the former SmackDown General Manager to sleep with a rear-naked choke for the win.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The new single-cab model is dressed up in an aggressive aero kit that includes a hood scoop, larger fenders, and a prominent rear wing coming off the tailgate.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 31 July 2026
Definition of rear
Adjective
  • The 24-year-old had an MRI on Wednesday morning and the Red Sox received encouraging news, as results showed left posterior elbow inflammation.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • Starter Michael Soroka left before the second inning with posterior hip discomfort sustained throwing warm-up pitches.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 June 2026
Definition of posterior
Adjective
  • Wayde Deatherage took some back roads and returned by early evening.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Wicker looks as if it’s been artfully draped across the seat and back rest of these chairs, balancing the rigid frame with some softness.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of back
Adjective
  • This plug protected one of the 59 screws attaching the aft heatshield to the Apollo 8 command module in December 1968.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 16 July 2026
  • Another highlight is the aft cockpit, which is equipped with two swing-down side terraces that open to increase the deck space to 398 square feet.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 July 2026
Definition of aft

Browse Nearby Words

dorms
dorsal
dory
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on dorsal

Nglish: Translation of dorsal for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All