Definition of undergirdnext
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology

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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 undergird Even cheaper or open-source AI models from smaller companies could soon enable this sort of hacking—which would unsettle the basic security and privacy that undergird the modern internet. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026 The frontier myth undergirded their policies. Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026 In the summer of 2020, massive riots erupted over the murder of George Floyd, undergirded by a powerful social justice movement. Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2026 In the early 2000s it was shown that there are at least 10500 different configurations of the six compact dimensions, each theoretically undergirding a universe with different properties. Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undergird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergird
Verb
  • The Uruguay midfielder underwent surgery following a hamstring injury sustained when Spurs lost 3-2 away to Bournemouth on January 7.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Reasonableness, like tolerance, is best seen as a convention of restraint, sustained because everyone remembers, however vaguely, what happens when the treaty collapses.
    Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Pahlavi in Berlin called on Europeans to do more to support Iranian people fighting for democracy.
    Sean Nevin, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Instead of relying solely on a few flagship machines, China appears to be building a dense and interconnected infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale AI applications across industries.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That projection is based on the player’s performance in each metric over the last three seasons (five for goalies), weighted for recency where more recent seasons carry more significance and regressed to the mean.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The Moon amplifies Jupiter, helping your words land clearly and carry weight.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Vikings could target him as an undrafted signing to bolster a defensive backs group that should look far different when the draft concludes.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • This premise, bolstered by excellent performances all around, could easily have sustained a totally enjoyable TV show.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Undergird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergird. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

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