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.

It’s one thing for Mamdani supporters to imbibe “eat the rich” rhetoric, it’s another to lambaste small-time shopkeepers as greedy exploiters when they are the backbone of neighborhood food provision and cultural cohesion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

These ventures, which form the backbone of India's manufacturing sector, often operate on thin margins, where even modest pay rises can strain finances.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

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

From Salon • Apr. 14, 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

It was also difficult in traditional New Guinea, where rugged terrain and the long backbone of high mountains prevented any significant progress toward political and linguistic unification.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond