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 peers with their pockets full of tiny screens provide a direct and intimate connection to the very underbelly of the human experience.
—
Jessica Shyba, SELF, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s a soft underbelly to the Best Picture ten this year, just waiting for someone to exploit.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025
Opponents will continue to attack the soft underbelly of this defense until Tonga and Williams return.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
An underbelly of bright white light a ghost in the shadows.
—Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
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Jessica Shyba, SELF, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s a soft underbelly to the Best Picture ten this year, just waiting for someone to exploit.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025
Opponents will continue to attack the soft underbelly of this defense until Tonga and Williams return.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
An underbelly of bright white light a ghost in the shadows.
—Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underbelly. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.
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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