as in spines
a column of bones supporting the trunk of a vertebrate animal
found the backbone of a fish lying on the beach
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Recent Examples of backbones
Many are Latin American or African immigrants working in the agricultural, tourism or service sectors, backbones of Spain’s booming economy.
—
Renata Brito, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
In the economy of tomorrow, community colleges and vocational-technical schools—optimized for true lifelong learning with apprenticeship and mentorship programs—will likely be the backbones of public and private education alike.
—Eric Holcomb, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Discovered in 1981, the tiny backbones — just a few millimeters long — had not received much attention historically.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2025
Driving trucks is one of the unappreciated backbones of modern civilization.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 Sep. 2025
Platform product management is rarely treated as a strategic, first-class discipline, resulting in fragmented backbones that fail to support enterprise-wide innovation.
—Gaurav Dixit, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
By trading in metal backbones for a soft familiar-feeling vest, the wearable robot offers a more cost-effective and approachable solution for the millions of individuals worldwide who could possibly benefit from moderate limb support.
—Mack Degeurin Aug 21, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
Renata Brito, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
In the economy of tomorrow, community colleges and vocational-technical schools—optimized for true lifelong learning with apprenticeship and mentorship programs—will likely be the backbones of public and private education alike.
—Eric Holcomb, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Discovered in 1981, the tiny backbones — just a few millimeters long — had not received much attention historically.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2025
Driving trucks is one of the unappreciated backbones of modern civilization.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 Sep. 2025
Platform product management is rarely treated as a strategic, first-class discipline, resulting in fragmented backbones that fail to support enterprise-wide innovation.
—Gaurav Dixit, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
By trading in metal backbones for a soft familiar-feeling vest, the wearable robot offers a more cost-effective and approachable solution for the millions of individuals worldwide who could possibly benefit from moderate limb support.
—Mack Degeurin Aug 21, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbones
spines
Noun
-
In the background, composer Jerskin Fendrix worked with Lanthimos’ team to build the intensity and send a chill down viewers’ spines with his avant-garde music.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Parents have always needed to raise children with strong spines, thick skins and moral virtue.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backbones.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbones. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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