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 But changing a country, changing an entire regime, because Iran isn't just run by a strong man, there's an entire philosophy, a theocratic philosophy that undergirds the Iranian government. Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026 Instruments drift in and out, sometimes accreting into subtle polyrhythms or harmonies, and other times lightly undergirding Ederra’s gorgeous runs. Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026 But in doing so, the preservationists failed to bring the proper claim to test the statutory authority Trump claims undergirds his authority to proceed without Congress’s blessing, Leon said. Ella Lee, The Hill, 26 Feb. 2026 During this run, Shawn is even doing performances of The Fever, his 1990 one-person play about the ugly compromises that undergird American life, on Sunday and Monday evenings when Moth Days is dark. Christopher Bonanos, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undergird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergird
Verb
  • Jock Landale was out for the Hawks with a right high ankle sprain sustained during Atlanta's 130-101 win against Orlando on Wednesday night.
    CBS News, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Those developments were enough to sustain cautious investor optimism on Wall Street.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • By that, Lentsch means that the general public — the masses — overwhelmingly support public lands and have the potential to throw their support behind the cause.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The school raised the majority of the funding for the forest from the Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, which will also support an environmental science project on campus.
    Molly McCrea, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The tanker is believed to have carried approximately 9,000 gallons of gasoline during the crash.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
  • And while vastly underused under Biff Poggi, seeing just 26 carries spanning two seasons (despite posting the highest average rush on the team), Rutledge elected to stay in green and gold and play for Tim Albin.
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • From confirmation to downfall During her confirmation hearings, Bondi promised to safeguard the Justice Department’s independence and bolster its transparency.
    Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
  • In a cash crunch, streaming subscriptions also tend to be casualties, which only bolsters the value of over-the-air TV when Americans are keeping a tight grip on their checkbooks.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Undergird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergird. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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