backbone

noun/ˈbækˌboʊn/

Frequency rank: #7,370 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)

Meaning

the strength of character to do what is right or necessary; courage and determination.

Illustration for the English word “backbone”

Example sentence

A good leader needs a strong backbone to make tough decisions under pressure.

Synonyms & related words

More words in ranks 7,301–7,400