1
as in spine
a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal
found the backbone of a fish lying on the beach
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in courage
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship
it takes backbone to stand up to the kind of suffering that some cancer patients must endure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backbone
Anthony Wayne, President of Black Broadway Men said in a statement that since joining the Board of Black Broadway Men United Inc. back in 2021 as Vice President, Kearney was the integral backbone of the foundation and brought his legal and structural expertise to the forefront.
—
Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
The three have been the backbone of the team for the last three seasons.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2025
This simple principle is the backbone of all healthy relationships.
—Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Such alliances have been the backbone of U.S. foreign policy and have distinguished the U.S. from other past global superpowers.
—Matthew Clary, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backbone
Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
The three have been the backbone of the team for the last three seasons.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2025
This simple principle is the backbone of all healthy relationships.
—Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Such alliances have been the backbone of U.S. foreign policy and have distinguished the U.S. from other past global superpowers.
—Matthew Clary, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backbone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbone
Noun
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For example,side sleepers tested pillows advertised as supportive to keep the neck and spine aligned, hot sleepers tested cooling pillows, and plush-preferring sleepers tried pillows made of materials like latex or down.—
Megan Wahn,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2025
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This therapy has been effective for relieving pain in the hands, knees, hips, ankles, shoulders, and spine.—
Rowan Briggs,
The Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, is all about new beginnings, courage and fresh starts.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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Zegler’s Snow White is a princess who not only finds true love but also the courage to be the type of leader that her late father taught her to be.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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That memory still burns, creating just the right balance of fortitude and redemption.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2025
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Cheaper laughs run rampant, invoking and evacuating seriousness in one limp gesture, smothering any thought or feeling at risk of requiring fortitude.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
The New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Specifically, long single-ply fibers are ideal over lots of shorter fibers woven together.—
Nena Farrell,
WIRED,
21 Mar. 2025
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The rule of thumb for eating more fiber is to go slow, make one change at a time and drink plenty of fluids.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA TODAY,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Rather than signaling academic stamina alone, these meaningful experiences illustrate maturity, purpose, and a student’s potential for significant contributions to college communities.—
Ray Ravaglia,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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The 52-year-old actress has been able to return to her craft, amid her battle with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), now that she’s increased her stamina and is relapse-free.—
Erin Jensen,
USA TODAY,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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And don’t blink —Auburn and Michigan are set to light up the arena in a battle of athleticism and grit.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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There’s simply no substitute for the positive outcomes that qualities like grit, individual effort, commitment and consistency can predictably bring into your life.—
Vinesh Sukumaran,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
22 Mar. 2025
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The show’s bravery in exploring mature topics, like infertility, has also moved parents.—
Leena Tailor,
The Hollywood Reporter,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Many viewers loved the design and praised the brothers for their determination, but Carter also got his fair share of criticism.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
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One is a determination to keep fighting: beat the administration in the courts, rely on the Congressional support that has saved foreign aid in the past, and return aid to something as close as possible to January 19, 2025.—
Dylan Matthews,
Vox,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbone. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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