1
as in underworld
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream
unable to get work in mainstream films, the actor ended up in Hollywood's underbelly—the porn industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in underside
the side or part facing downward from something
the underbelly of the old submarine is in bad shape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in back
a vulnerable point
the vast, thinly guarded southern border was obviously the underbelly of the nation's line of defense
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underbelly
Hyde has McCallany playing Detective Grimes, a haunted investigator descending into the decaying underbelly of a crumbling metropolis while hunting a brutal serial killer.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
Pol learns the ropes alongside fellow stripper Noel (Daniel Fernando) and savvy prostitute Bambi (Jaclyn Jose), discovering an underbelly of protection rackets, human trafficking and rampant political corruption.
—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 June 2026
Russia views the region as its southern underbelly, essential to preserving its influence over the former Soviet space.
—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
There would be heroin dens and gay bars and this underbelly of popular culture at the time.
—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
Pol learns the ropes alongside fellow stripper Noel (Daniel Fernando) and savvy prostitute Bambi (Jaclyn Jose), discovering an underbelly of protection rackets, human trafficking and rampant political corruption.
—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 June 2026
Russia views the region as its southern underbelly, essential to preserving its influence over the former Soviet space.
—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
There would be heroin dens and gay bars and this underbelly of popular culture at the time.
—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
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The company’s downfall came not from its ties to the Costa Rican underworld but from Pughsley and the others’ failure to pay taxes.
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The show, which starts in 1977 in Naples, follows Pietro Savastano – a tough city kid from a poor neighborhood – who is set to enter the criminal underworld as a means of survival.
Noun
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Your yearnings whet the underside of her tongue, as familiar as the thrum of her own pulse.
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All of which could have made her a comic-book heroine with a haunted underside, if the move had a haunted underside.
Noun
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Dutch center-back Jan Paul van Hecke.
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With a simple red heart as her caption, Johansen posted pictures of herself in the red jacket — that has Haaland's name on the back — as well as photos of herself in the stands as Norway took on Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Monday, June 22.
Noun
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Both of these sightings were enough to convince me to add the summer-ready bottoms to my own wardrobe (seriously, the pants have been living rent-free in my mind since her initial outfit).
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Haiti trails at the bottom with 0.
Noun
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Millennials have a soft spot in their hearts for babydoll tops.
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For many Haitian fans, there were mixed emotions in a country that has long had a soft spot for Brazil’s soccer team.
Noun
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And then Alvarez went for the jugular with a grand slam to deep center field.
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The president’s instinct to go for the jugular was on display in his first campaign, when he was written off early on as an entertainer but found success with brutal takedowns.
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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