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
Westman had decorated the assault rifle and shotgun with hate speech in ways that aligned with the dark underbelly of alt-right meme culture that regularly disparages people of color, Jewish people, the LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.
—
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The film’s first trailer hinted at something frisky and fun and glossy, with a thrilling underbelly, a sexy and wild outing that will put Ibsen in an entirely new light.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025
Riverdale was steeped in a Twin Peaks-like noir and followed the underbelly of the small town where Archie and the gang lived.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Under Horner’s wing, Eddie is reborn as adult film star Dirk Diggler — a character whose rise and fall exposes the dark underbelly of the industry and the price of fame.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
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Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The film’s first trailer hinted at something frisky and fun and glossy, with a thrilling underbelly, a sexy and wild outing that will put Ibsen in an entirely new light.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025
Riverdale was steeped in a Twin Peaks-like noir and followed the underbelly of the small town where Archie and the gang lived.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Under Horner’s wing, Eddie is reborn as adult film star Dirk Diggler — a character whose rise and fall exposes the dark underbelly of the industry and the price of fame.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 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 11 Sep. 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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