as in weak
lacking strength of will or character
an invertebrate Congress that blithely went along with the President's ill-conceived plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of invertebrate
Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2023
A year later, the state budgeted $10 million to pull DNA out of historic insect collections, as well as to launch ambitious new field studies to better understand the extent of California’s invertebrate biodiversity.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2022
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025
The invertebrate animals develop a hard skeleton of calcium carbonate, which forms the structure of living reefs.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invertebrate
Adjective
Jessica Ware is associate curator of invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2023
A year later, the state budgeted $10 million to pull DNA out of historic insect collections, as well as to launch ambitious new field studies to better understand the extent of California’s invertebrate biodiversity.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2022
Noun
Visitors have the opportunity to interact with stingrays and invertebrate species, and attend educational programs that give more information on local gamefish, sharks, and sea turtles.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025
The invertebrate animals develop a hard skeleton of calcium carbonate, which forms the structure of living reefs.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for invertebrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invertebrate
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the rest of the NBA is widely expected to be more competitive next season — from the bottom tier, where anti-tanking regulations and a weaker draft class should curb teams’ intentional losing, to the upper echelons, where Oklahoma City and San Antonio stand tall.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
-
Conditions change quickly, signals conflict with each other, and weak assumptions tend to get exposed without much delay.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The sharks’ resilience to aging could help scientists better understand longevity in vertebrates, including humans.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
4 May 2026
-
Rewriting the Story of Ancient Cretaceous Oceans For decades, the narrative of prehistoric oceans has centered on massive vertebrates as the dominant predators.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In babies, the measles virus can also cause a rare condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE — when a weakened form of the disease remains behind even after symptoms seem to clear.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
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The city stressed children, seniors and those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to harmful bacteria.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Voles, which are herbivores, construct surface or underground runways in areas of heavy ground cover.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
-
Spiral Diner serves vegan comfort food that will satisfy herbivores and carnivores alike.—
Regan Stephens,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
All German Pilsner malt, super soft water profile like that in a Czech pale lager, and 100% US-grown hops with a touch of flaked corn.—
Blaine Callahan,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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And inside the adjacent soft pretzel shop, two workers leaned over on the counter, watching videos on a phone to pass the time.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Manure from animals that don’t consume meat (rabbits, cows, horses) is fine, but do not use waste from carnivores.—
Jessica Damiano,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Spiral Diner serves vegan comfort food that will satisfy herbivores and carnivores alike.—
Regan Stephens,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Republicans in Congress have become spineless sycophants to a president who only sees the beauty of this country in dollar signs.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
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The nagging wife, the angry daughter and the spineless detective.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Invertebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invertebrate. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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