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

Synonyms

• demimonde
• demiworld
• half-world
• netherworld
• underworld

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

Ajay Devgn is back as Amay Patnaik in Raid 2, and the sequel digs deeper into the underbelly of India’s political corruption. —Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

Today the silk duvets are still sewn by hand in the underbelly of the hotel. —Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 5 May 2025

This 74-episode slow-burn neo-noir mystery series is about a successful young surgeon enmeshed in the underbelly of international crime and politics. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 2 May 2025

People will be surprised by the underbelly of this world, and how a dangerous player like Smith can manipulate the system, manipulate viewership, manipulate the parents, and manipulate the kids. —Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for underbelly

• vermicelli
• allele
• appellee
• ocelli
• belly
• deli
• felly
• jelly
• kellie
• melly
• nellie
• nelly

Kids 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