backbone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Those dense, umami-packed centers become the backbone of the dressing.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

But those islands have formed the roots of a national movement and the backbone of his election campaign.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

“We tend to undervalue and I would say underinvest in those unsexy but important capabilities like the oilers, like the auxiliaries, like the tenders. It’s the quiet backbone of American naval power.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

They are often dismissed as a punch line, but Roxane Gay explains why women’s book clubs are the backbone of a passionate literary culture.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

His arms were forged of steel, his backbone was the railroad, and in his veins was the coal that powered them both.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland