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
Hyde has McCallany playing Detective Grimes, a haunted investigator descending into the decaying underbelly of a crumbling metropolis while hunting a brutal serial killer.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 June 2026
Pol learns the ropes alongside fellow stripper Noel (Daniel Fernando) and savvy prostitute Bambi (Jaclyn Jose), discovering an underbelly of protection rackets, human trafficking and rampant political corruption.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 June 2026
Russia views the region as its southern underbelly, essential to preserving its influence over the former Soviet space.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
There would be heroin dens and gay bars and this underbelly of popular culture at the time.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
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Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 June 2026
Pol learns the ropes alongside fellow stripper Noel (Daniel Fernando) and savvy prostitute Bambi (Jaclyn Jose), discovering an underbelly of protection rackets, human trafficking and rampant political corruption.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 June 2026
Russia views the region as its southern underbelly, essential to preserving its influence over the former Soviet space.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
There would be heroin dens and gay bars and this underbelly of popular culture at the time.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 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 9 Jun. 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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