INVERTEBRATE Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

invertebrate 1 of 2

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈvər-tə-brət

Definition of invertebrate

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

invertebrate

2 of 2

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 invertebrate

Adjective

There will be hands-on training to conduct water quality testing and macro-invertebrate sampling. — Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025 Jessica Ware is associate curator of invertebrate zoology at the American Museum of Natural History. — Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2023

Noun

When Jo arrives on the island, however, Nadia is missing, and the jellyfish appears to be much more than a mere invertebrate. — Tessa Yang, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026 Previous Conservation Station elements including the veterinary treatment room, animal nutrition window and the amphibian, reptile and invertebrate windows again will be available. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for invertebrate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for invertebrate

Adjective

Ferries are a common method of travel and accidents occur regularly, in part due to weak enforcement of safety standards.

— IMAN SATRIA, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
This time a year ago, a weak La Niña — El Niño’s cool counterpart — was in place, and only a handful of other years have had such a rapid flip to a potent El Niño, including the strongest ever event from 1982 to 1983.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of weak

Noun

Biologists hotly debate whether the significant evolutionary changes that led to jawed vertebrates, from hagfish to humans, are connected by ancient gene duplications hundreds of millions of years ago.

— Carrie Arnold Contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 2026
Although people sometimes use animals informally to mean only vertebrates (animals with backbones) or even just mammals, in biology the term includes insects as well.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of vertebrate

Adjective

Most often, those who do seek medical attention are people who are more susceptible to foodborne illnesses, such as children, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems.

— Kimberly Baker, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Most people recover within several days, but infections can become serious for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of weakened

Noun

The same process occurs in the radish’s spicier cousins, and the resulting chemicals are thought to help deter herbivores and pests.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
But Carcache wonders whether the vine might also deter herbivores, offering some protection to its host.

— Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of herbivore

Adjective

Bronwyn’s mother, Muzzy, who was lambasted all of last season for being cold and arguably cruel to her daughter, is notably softer in her first scene back — though the bob is as cunty as ever.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
During our time there, we were treated to a three-course chef’s tasting menu that was a paean to the summer; think a profusion of tomatoes, stone fruit, local soft cheeses, and edible flowers.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of soft

Noun

As prices have soared, Americans' appetites for beef has increased along with trends like carnivore diets and protein-maxxing.

— Israel Schuman, Des Moines Register, 9 Sep. 2026
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife received two reports of a rare gray wolf sighting and photos of the carnivore in late August in an area where Mendocino, Glenn and Lake counties meet.

— Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of carnivore

Adjective

Trump does not ask, but demands, and these spineless Republicans fall on their knees and yield to his wishes.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
And now the nation will probably never get back to normal because a spineless GOP can never admit that it’s been conned.

— Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 May 2026

Definition of spineless

Browse Nearby Words

invert

invertebrate

invertebrates

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Invertebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invertebrate. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of invertebrate

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on invertebrate

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

volition

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes