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 Even more frightening, the percentage exceeded 50% in many groups, including insects, terrestrial vertebrates, and marine species. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 June 2026 In bony vertebrates, including mammals, cranial neural crest cells rapidly migrate toward the front of the face. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 During the Early Devonian Period, life on land was still relatively new, and many of the ancestors of modern vertebrates had yet to emerge from the water. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026 In the tropics, food webs are less unidirectional—vertebrates that normally eat invertebrates such as insects and arachnids can easily find the tables turned. — Jake Buehler, Scientific American, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for vertebrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vertebrate
  1. animal
  2. creature
  3. critter
Noun
  • If Kenny hates animals and Whitney hates moms, what is next, someone hating s’mores?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 July 2026
  • This free pet pantry offers free pet food, treats and supplies for dogs, cats and other small animals.
    — Mary Eber, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of animal
Noun
  • Extreme corsetry, volumes, and silhouettes morphed women’s bodies into unnatural forms, some hyper-perfect, others creature-like.
    — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 10 July 2026
  • The trailer finds the film’s protagonists alternately hunting or fleeing the vicious creature — or creatures — through a tattered town known as Hope Harbor, a remote coastal village near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026
Definition of creature
Noun
  • Extreme heat, tempting open bodies of water and outdoor critters can all prove deadly.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 July 2026
  • Fish and other tiny critters get grouped together in the remaining shallow puddles.
    — Alex Harris July 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 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 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vertebrate

Nglish: Translation of vertebrate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vertebrate

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