How to Use spine in a Sentence

spine

noun
  • They lack the spine to do what needs to be done.
  • This X-ray shows her spine.
  • Hedgehogs are covered with spines.
  • Her spine and hips and neck crushed.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Kate and Hal are the spine of the show.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 14 May 2026
  • Will this court ruling give them a spine?
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Lower and press with a straight spine.
    — Sherri Gordon, Health, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but your spine is strong enough.
    — Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2023
  • My sacrum detached from my spine on the left side.
    — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Great leaders lead with heart, but steer with spine.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Have some spine, some goddamn balls ….
    — George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Try to avoid landing on your knees, wrists, or spine.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
  • Miguel felt the air leave his lungs and his spine start to buckle.
    — Hannah Dreier, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2023
  • The spines are soft, not sharp, so this cactus won’t hurt you.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Broken bones in his neck, spine, right hip, ribs and both legs.
    — Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2021
  • One stray bullet hit Jeff’s spine.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 21 June 2026
  • Tania checked the front cover of the book, then the back, then the spine.
    — Ruby Cramer, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023
  • Kneel on a mat with a straight spine, hips over knees and cross your arms across your chest.
    — Jen Murphy, WSJ, 11 Dec. 2021
  • The stems are bright green and covered in small spines that look like fuzz or hair.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The stems are bright green and covered in small spines that look like fuzz or hair.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Keep the legs as high as needed to avoid arching in the spine.
    — Mallory Creveling, Health, 1 Mar. 2023
  • Make sure your spine stays neutral and neither hip drops.
    — Christa Sgobba, Health, 16 June 2026
  • The bullet hit close to his spine, leaving his legs numb.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 June 2026
  • The spine of the team for both games looks very familiar.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • That puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves within the spine.
    — John Pope, NOLA.com, 30 Dec. 2020
  • The night seemed even darker, and a tingle ran up my spine.
    — Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The sound of a car suddenly pulling away sends a shock down his spine.
    — Barry Levitt, TIME, 28 Nov. 2024
  • The mere mention of bed bugs is enough to send a shiver down the spine.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The bullet remains lodged in his spine.
    — Fred Clasen-Kelly, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
  • Those types of moves would strengthen the spine of next season’s team.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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