as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
the underlying differences between democracy and dictatorship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in supporting
to lie underneath
A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.
Related Words
2
as in grounding
to form the basis or foundation of (something, such as an idea)
The assumption that underlies their argument is faulty.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of underlying
Britton Bloch, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Company officials state that the primary obstacle to fusion energy is no longer validating the underlying science, but establishing scalable industrial manufacturing.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026
Songs from Proof and Most Beautiful Moments in Life will be broken down to explore their deeper meanings and underlying messages.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlying
Adjective
Yet these efforts can sharpen the vocabulary of leadership while leaving the underlying habits of the leadership system untouched.
—Britton Bloch, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Company officials state that the primary obstacle to fusion energy is no longer validating the underlying science, but establishing scalable industrial manufacturing.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Verb
Large randomized trials testing specific food protocols don’t yet exist, but the hormonal physiology underlying the general framework is well documented.
—Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026
Songs from Proof and Most Beautiful Moments in Life will be broken down to explore their deeper meanings and underlying messages.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlying
Adjective
-
The war displaced most of the Palestinian population of more than 2 million, left large parts of the territory in rubble and created widespread shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies asGaza’s border crossings — all but one controlled by Israel — were shut.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
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The Advanced Driver Assistance System is basic lane centering (see video above for more).—
Brooke Crothers,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Your 10th House of Career gains shine as beauty-loving Venus arrives, supporting confident polish and the power of understated presence.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2026
-
State initiatives aimed at supporting fusion research and commercialization have encouraged investment and collaboration, helping establish an ecosystem designed to accelerate technological breakthroughs.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
But for Chun, Sint Maarten’s connection to history and heritage is deeply grounding.—
Megan Margulies,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
-
For people who feel overwhelmed, restorative shapes can be especially grounding.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Decision makers that prepare themselves with some rudimentary understanding of the types and models of AI, and ask the right questions of the solutions presented to them, are often better positioned to make a difference for their institution.—
Troy Holaday,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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But the filmic quality of the album lies less in any conventionally cinematic progression and more in Rossetto’s ability to imbue even the most rudimentary sounds with vivid detail and perspective.—
Levi Dayan,
Pitchfork,
9 June 2026
Verb
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City officials approved an agreement underpinning the massive plan in 2022, around the same time that Victory — then pitched in a different form as Seasons on the Bench — took shape on farmland next door.—
Mark Dee
June 10,
Idaho Statesman,
10 June 2026
-
The vision underpinning the project reflects Karmitz’s belief that cinemas should serve as antidotes to digital isolation.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Charged with establishing the firm as one of the more disruptive in the SE.—
Dean Trevelino,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
The Geneva Accords of 1954, the international agreements that ended the First Indochina War, divided Vietnam by establishing the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), running north of the Bến Hải River.—
Pavlo Fedykovych,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
In recent years, however, the number of students that needed to take the class exploded—from 32 in 2020 to 665 in 2025—and deficiencies have become so bad that the course had to be redesigned to cover middle school and even elementary level skills.—
Adam B. Summers,
Oc Register,
11 June 2026
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Amid a national push to reduce screen time in schools, elementary and middle school students report less of their free time is spent reading.—
Ashley Mowreader,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
There are no majorities for anything, least of all for upholding the rights of the freed slaves in the South.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
-
The murders of Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson On December 12, 1998, a 21-year-old Lee walked into Jimmy’s Pawn Shop in Orville, Alabama, according to a 2013 federal appeals ruling upholding his conviction and sentence.—
Nina Giraldo,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlying. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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