spines

plural of spine
as in backbones
a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal he hurt his spine in the accident, but the doctor says he'll be walking again in no time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 spines As appointed by production designer Valeria De Felice, the workspace is a literary dreamscape, lined with Persian rugs and bookcases displaying a rainbow of magazine spines. — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026 Yellow starthistle plants are gray-green and produce yellow, thistle-like flowers with stiff, long spines in late June and July. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026 Also known as hedge apple, people loved its adaptability and tough-as-nails character, but the spines and grapefruit-sized fruit were not usually welcomed in home landscapes. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2026 The fruits are enjoyed by birds, and deer tend to avoid this shrub, most likely due to the sharp spines. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 6 Sep. 2026 The Food and Drug Administration has again paused trials for Regenxbio’s gene therapy for a rare childhood brain disorder, after small masses were found on the spines of five patients, the company said Monday. — Jason Mast, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026 Four patients getting routine joint replacement surgeries at a hospital in Nashville allegedly had the wrong drug injected into their spines, leaving at least one woman paralyzed, according to her family. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026 The spines only penetrate the ice as the suspension compresses, generating grip and protecting them from high-impact forces. — Tim Hornyak, IEEE Spectrum, 18 Aug. 2026 That Airtag was then tracked to an Amazon AI training facility in Las Vegas that housed a team focused on tearing books from their spines and scanning pages, 404 Media reported. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spines
Noun
  • The structural backbones of the phalanges are 3D-printed from PLA, while soft silicone interfaces provide friction and compliance when the fingers contact a branch.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • More specifically, insects are invertebrates (animals without backbones) and are part of the arthropod phylum, which also includes spiders, crabs, and centipedes.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The 6-foot-1, 200-pound corner fits the lengthy, rangy profile the Panthers have looked for in their defensive backs — and prior to a season-ending injury last year, Thornton had won the nickel corner job from Smith-Wade.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026
  • That, of course, would not be a good luck for the running backs.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spines. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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