Thesaurus results for BACKBONES

backbones

noun

plural of backbone

as in spines

a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal found the backbone of a fish lying on the beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 backbones More specifically, insects are invertebrates (animals without backbones) and are part of the arthropod phylum, which also includes spiders, crabs, and centipedes. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 Look under rocks for macroinvertebrates (animals without backbones, like stoneflies). — Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2026 Data centers also need to be close enough to users and network backbones to provide fast digital services. — Sven Bilén, The Conversation, 16 June 2026 Even when degraded, enzymes have stable backbones that might be capable of catalyzing reactions, said Sudha Rajamani, an astrobiologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune who wasn’t involved in the study. — Siddhant Pusdekar, Quanta Magazine, 1 June 2026 As songwriters, the Ottavianos usually only needed a metaphor, a single beautiful image, or a fun double entendre to serve as narrative backbones. — Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 26 Apr. 2026 There's also a perception that squishy invertebrates — creatures without backbones — weren't formidable enough to join the ranks of top predators. — ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026 Hundreds of animals with backbones are still being discovered every single year. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026 To start the new Mideast war, Donnie acted on his own with no resistance from his sycophants, who have no backbones. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbones

spines

Noun

The Food and Drug Administration has again paused trials for Regenxbio’s gene therapy for a rare childhood brain disorder, after small masses were found on the spines of five patients, the company said Monday.

— Jason Mast, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026
Four patients getting routine joint replacement surgeries at a hospital in Nashville allegedly had the wrong drug injected into their spines, leaving at least one woman paralyzed, according to her family.

— Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of spines

Browse Nearby Words

backboned

backbones

backbreaking

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Backbones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbones. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of backbones

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes