as in animals
biology
an animal that has a backbone
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Recent Examples of vertebrates
The fruit fly research by Freeman’s team indicates the next steps in research in vertebrates; in the same Science issue the group reported that norepinephrine changes how astrocytes respond to input from neurons.
—
Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, most of the major groups of animals alive today — including vertebrates which would eventually include humans — evolved and started populating the world's oceans.
—CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Ethanol is a potential toxin for all vertebrates, including bats and humans.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
Evergreen ground covers also shelter overwintering pollinators and provide year-round habit for ground-dwelling insects and vertebrates.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
But birds, like all vertebrates, can’t synthesize carotenoid pigments on their own.
—David Toews, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
Estimated to exceed 120 feet in length and weigh around 69 tons, this colossal saurpod offered new insight into the size limits of terrestrial vertebrates.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
Birds, the warm-blooded and feathered vertebrates, are being used to put romantic partners to the test.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
The species feeds by relying on symbiotic bacteria to break down fats inside the bones of large vertebrates, like whales.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, most of the major groups of animals alive today — including vertebrates which would eventually include humans — evolved and started populating the world's oceans.
—CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Ethanol is a potential toxin for all vertebrates, including bats and humans.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
Evergreen ground covers also shelter overwintering pollinators and provide year-round habit for ground-dwelling insects and vertebrates.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
But birds, like all vertebrates, can’t synthesize carotenoid pigments on their own.
—David Toews, The Conversation, 11 Dec. 2025
Estimated to exceed 120 feet in length and weigh around 69 tons, this colossal saurpod offered new insight into the size limits of terrestrial vertebrates.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
Birds, the warm-blooded and feathered vertebrates, are being used to put romantic partners to the test.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
The species feeds by relying on symbiotic bacteria to break down fats inside the bones of large vertebrates, like whales.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vertebrates
Noun
-
The park offers one of the most exciting wildlife experiences in Southern Africa, with a million acres of biodiverse savannas, wetlands, and montane rainforests, and a range of animals that includes buffalo herds, lion prides, and an array of birds.—
Lisa Grainger,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Feb. 2026
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Since the turn of this century, studies have shown that short periods of radical calorie restriction has outsize benefits for animals.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
So, the high proportion of carbon spewed into the atmosphere along volcanic arcs in the past 120 million years is mostly due to the carbon-rich sediments these creatures created.—
Ben Mather,
Space.com,
7 Feb. 2026
-
However, state lawmakers are seeking to ban the taking of the rare ocean creatures altogether.—
News Service Of Florida,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Van Cleef & Arpels’ playful Lucky Animals collection originally debuted in 2017 and has since grown with new additions of adorable critters.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The little animals that will come to be emblematic of the 2026 Games are stoats, extremely cute critters that in real life are related to the weasel and the otter.—
Mark Scaglione,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Prices typically range from about $5,000 for quadrupeds to $20,000 for humanoids.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The Skild Brain is omni-bodied, capable of operating across multiple robot morphologies, including humanoids, quadrupeds, mobile manipulators, and tabletop arms.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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 11 Feb. 2026.
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