vertebrates

noun

plural of vertebrate
as in animals
biology an animal that has a backbone

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 vertebrates Transposable elements are linked to the evolution of animal eyes as well as the adaptive immune system in jawed vertebrates. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026 There were no cosmonauts aboard, but there were several smaller vertebrates — including the first two tortoises to ever go to space! — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026 Although people sometimes use animals informally to mean only vertebrates (animals with backbones) or even just mammals, in biology the term includes insects as well. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 Others, including Erin Maxwell, an expert on Early Jurassic marine vertebrates at the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, disagree. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Erin Maxwell, an expert in Early Jurassic marine vertebrates at the State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart, Germany, lamented the sale as a loss to the UK. — News Desk, Artforum, 11 Aug. 2026 In humans and other vertebrates, aging hearts typically accumulate scar-like collagen deposits called fibrosis. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Because of their smaller body sizes than vertebrates, arthropods are often portrayed as prey of vertebrates. — Jay Kakade july 13, New Atlas, 14 July 2026 Insects and the like Most of the species cats ate were vertebrates – mostly birds, followed by mammals and reptiles. — Christopher A. Lepczyk, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vertebrates
  1. animals
  2. creatures
  3. critters
  4. quadrupeds
  5. beasties
Noun
  • Everyone from the guides to the dining staff have come to know the area well over the years of preparation to open—and deeply love the animals and scenery that lodges like this one aim to protect.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The show, which has five 60-minute episodes, is a warm-hearted factual entertainment format celebrating the bond between people and their animals.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of animals
Noun
  • After environmentalists advocated for protecting these unique creatures, the nuclear-weapons manufacturing on their site was halted.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Billions of minuscule creatures, after all, agitate the waterways of the world.
    — Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of creatures
Noun
  • Clear blue skies are hovering over the Pharmalot campus, where a cool breeze is wafting by and the official mascots are bounding about the grounds in search of critters.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Already, some of these critters have moved into the area while the work continues.
    — Peggy Gossett-Seidman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of critters
Noun
  • Unitree is part of a broader wave of Chinese robotics manufacturers that are dominating the industry, not just in humanoid robots but also in quadrupeds, household robots, and industrial machines.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
  • But there will be fewer bodies for those brains to go into, at least in the US, after Washington this week banned new foreign humanoids and quadrupeds.
    — J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of quadrupeds
Noun
  • Greg and Denise are having some marital issues, but everybody needs to put other concerns aside to stay alive with nasty raptors and other hungry beasties around.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
  • And when that happens, astronomers will set about studying these new beasties with other eyes on the sky to learn more about them and hopefully understand them.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
Definition of beasties

Browse Nearby Words

vertebrate
vertebrates
vertex
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vertebrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vertebrates. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inscrutable

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

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

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All