vertebrate

noun

Definition of vertebratenext
as in animal
biology an animal that has a backbone

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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 vertebrate 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, 14 Aug. 2026 Others, including Erin Maxwell, an expert on Early Jurassic marine vertebrates at the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, disagree. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Erin Maxwell, an expert in Early Jurassic marine vertebrates at the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, Germany, lamented the sale as a loss to the UK. — News Desk, Artforum, 11 Aug. 2026 In humans and other vertebrates, aging hearts typically accumulate scar-like collagen deposits called fibrosis. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vertebrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vertebrate
  1. animal
  2. creature
  3. critter
Noun
  • Officials said a child may have come into contact with that animal.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Under the cover of night, Orwell’s pigs paint new words onto the side of the barn where the rules governing all the animals are listed.
    — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of animal
Noun
  • The Beast of Bray Road is part of local folklore, with the creature allegedly first seen in the area in 1936.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
  • And how did the mythical creature become a go-to insult in politics?
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of creature
Noun
  • In less than two months, a different camera stationed not far from the southern end of the crossing picked up a plethora of critters, including a mountain lion with two older kittens and another uncollared lion.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • After all, the birds and critters that frequent your backyard might enjoy the fruit as much as you.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of critter

Browse Nearby Words

vertebral columns
vertebrate
vertebrates
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Cite this Entry

“Vertebrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vertebrate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vertebrate

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vertebrate

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