subterranean

adjective

sub·ter·ra·nean | \ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən,

-nyən\

variants: or less commonly subterraneous \ ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-əs ,

-nyəs \

Definition of subterranean

1 : being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth

2 : existing or working in secret : hidden a subterranean network of criminals

Other Words from subterranean Synonyms & Antonyms Go Underground With Subterranean More Example Sentences Learn More about subterranean

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Synonyms & Antonyms for subterranean

Synonyms

belowground, subsurface, underground

Antonyms

aboveground, surface

Examples of subterranean in a Sentence

a subterranean bunker that supposedly could withstand even an atomic blast

Recent Examples on the Web

Before 1959, jazz was widely considered subterranean, nocturnal music favored by hipsters, intellectuals and outcasts. — Marc Myers, WSJ, "A Great Day in Harlem, Revisited," 2 Nov. 2018 To access the Skyspace, visitors walk through a glowing subterranean tunnel whose door was built to perfectly align to Biberkopf peak. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "James Turrell’s new Skyspace is nestled into the Austrian mountains," 1 Oct. 2018 Their cupidity quickly becomes an existential threat to all of the people and things that define the city, condemning them to a subterranean life at the bottom of the void. — Laura Hudson, The Verge, "Donut County is a game about swallowing Los Angeles and realizing you’re an asshole," 1 Sep. 2018 Now, there is drilling and tapping of subterranean petroleum lakes in ways they never could have dreamed before. — Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, "What happened to coal," 21 Aug. 2018 Researchers thought that subterranean water could have been rising to the surface and causing the dark streaks. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, "Wow! This Fresh Meteoroid Impact on Mars Triggered a Dusty Avalanche," 19 June 2018 Slowly Shirley This subterranean Art Deco cocktail bar is hidden beneath The Happiest Hour, which is more chaotic. — Alex Van Buren, Condé Nast Traveler, "21 Best Bars in New York City," 1 Mar. 2018 While the novel maps Shirley’s obsessive searching within a gray urban grid, its real journey is subterranean, taking the form of peregrinations through her jumbled psyche. — New York Times, "Her Lover May Not Exist, but Her Doubts About the Patriarchy Are Real," 6 July 2018 The sale is further complicated because the building is connected to critical subterranean Metro infrastructure. — Martine Powers, Washington Post, "Metro seeks buyer for downtown D.C. headquarters," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subterranean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.