as in animals
biology
an animal that has a backbone
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Recent Examples of vertebrates
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
For decades, the paleontological consensus was that this was the age of vertebrates; anything without a backbone was lunch.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Many vertebrates also form lifelong bonds.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
According to the Nature study, the Captorhinus fossils help scientists more accurately place this evolutionary milestone in the timeline of terrestrial vertebrates — nearly 290 million years ago.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Likely caused by volcanic eruptions in present-day Siberia, the End-Permian cataclysm eventually wiped out around 57 percent of all biological life, including 70 percent of terrestrial vertebrates.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
The discovery suggests that complex animals — perhaps even ancestors of all vertebrates — were around millions of years earlier than once thought.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In all vertebrates, the thymus degenerates very rapidly with age.
—Mallory Locklear, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
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
For decades, the paleontological consensus was that this was the age of vertebrates; anything without a backbone was lunch.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Many vertebrates also form lifelong bonds.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
According to the Nature study, the Captorhinus fossils help scientists more accurately place this evolutionary milestone in the timeline of terrestrial vertebrates — nearly 290 million years ago.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Likely caused by volcanic eruptions in present-day Siberia, the End-Permian cataclysm eventually wiped out around 57 percent of all biological life, including 70 percent of terrestrial vertebrates.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
The discovery suggests that complex animals — perhaps even ancestors of all vertebrates — were around millions of years earlier than once thought.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In all vertebrates, the thymus degenerates very rapidly with age.
—Mallory Locklear, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vertebrates
Noun
-
Still, the current outbreak is a warning sign of what’s to come with zoonotic diseases that move from animals to people, public health experts say.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
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The small fish, also known as remoras, are known for attaching themselves to larger marine animals — including whales and sharks — for protection, free transportation and food.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
For Thorndike, as for Descartes, animals were creatures without ideas.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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Getting any small business off the ground is no small feat and breweries are complex creatures.—
Blaine Callahan,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Fencing is the only foolproof way to keep critters out.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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The nets also protect against other critters, including chipmunks, bunnies, and bugs.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Interdiction of humans, that is, not quadrupeds.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Mar. 2026
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These mechanical quadrupeds, made by the likes of Boston Dynamics and Ghost Robotics, can patrol premises, scanning the perimeter for intruders, spies, and other ne’er-do-wells, and sound the alarm when holes in fences or other suspicious things are detected.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Abby’s Magical Beasties, where one of the beasties goes missing, and Abby must problem-solve.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In a horrific twist, Kasumi (Kana Hanazawa) wakes up way too early — and thus has to battle the ferocious beasties to survive.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vertebrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vertebrates. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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