underbelly
noun
un·der·bel·ly
ˈən-dər-ˌbe-lē 
1
: a vulnerable area
also
: a corrupt or sordid part
probing the underbelly of the entertainment industry
2
: the underside of a body or mass
Examples of underbelly in a Sentence
They exposed the underbelly of the nation's economic policy.
the sordid underbelly of city life
Recent Examples on the Web
Their first album in four years, Dancing on the Wall, reflects a group that's been famous long enough to know what a golden goose’s underbelly looks like.
—
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
Derrek Miranda, the man behind the Whitewallstuntz social media accounts that gained popularity in the last year documenting Los Angeles’ underbelly, said his Instagram account was deactivated after posting a video of the April 25 speed run.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
In New Mexico, where Arakawa and Hackman lived, the most common carrier of hantavirus is the deer mouse, a small creature with a white underbelly, large eyes and oversize ears.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 May 2026
The most caustic people in the world often have the softest underbellies — at least if Alden Ehrenreich is playing them.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
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Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
Derrek Miranda, the man behind the Whitewallstuntz social media accounts that gained popularity in the last year documenting Los Angeles’ underbelly, said his Instagram account was deactivated after posting a video of the April 25 speed run.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
In New Mexico, where Arakawa and Hackman lived, the most common carrier of hantavirus is the deer mouse, a small creature with a white underbelly, large eyes and oversize ears.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 May 2026
The most caustic people in the world often have the softest underbellies — at least if Alden Ehrenreich is playing them.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underbelly. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underbelly
noun
un·der·bel·ly
ˈən-dər-ˌbel-ē
: the underpart of a body or mass
the underbelly of a bomber
also
: an area open to attack or damage
the army's underbelly
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