1
as in underworld
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream
unable to get work in mainstream films, the actor ended up in Hollywood's underbelly—the porn industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in underside
the side or part facing downward from something
the underbelly of the old submarine is in bad shape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in back
a vulnerable point
the vast, thinly guarded southern border was obviously the underbelly of the nation's line of defense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underbelly
In the film, former country megastar Misty Jones (Chastain) comes out of seclusion to investigate the disappearance of her missing niece (Faith), a rising country musician, and must grapple with her own past and Nashville’s seedy underbelly.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
But the movie’s soft-hearted underbelly fails to support that reading, and by the time the story finally arrives at its final moments, the unsparing cynicism that supplied its initial lift has been dragged back down to Earth by the weight of bland truisms.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
This conflict has been an ugly one, here at home exposing a dark underbelly of antisemitism.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
For her work in the true crime genre, Sarian earned the 2025 Webby Award for her podcast Dark History, which explores the past’s dark underbelly.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
But the movie’s soft-hearted underbelly fails to support that reading, and by the time the story finally arrives at its final moments, the unsparing cynicism that supplied its initial lift has been dragged back down to Earth by the weight of bland truisms.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
This conflict has been an ugly one, here at home exposing a dark underbelly of antisemitism.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
For her work in the true crime genre, Sarian earned the 2025 Webby Award for her podcast Dark History, which explores the past’s dark underbelly.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
-
In The Furious, when his daughter Rainy is abducted, humble tradesman Wang Wei is thrust into a deadly underworld of corruption and violence.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The story centers on Wang Wei, a humble tradesman forced into a violent criminal underworld after his daughter Rainy is kidnapped.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Add beef in an even layer and cook, undisturbed, until deeply browned on underside, about 5 minutes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Secured by six snaps, the removable top panel features nylon mesh on its underside to provide similar dust protection to the bottom filter.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey have formed a strong centre-back partnership and, when fit, Antonee Robinson is among world football’s most energetic full-backs.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The single panels have two hanging options, including a 3-inch rod pocket or back tabs that can hold curtain rings.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bagsmart Tech Organizer Nothing feels messier than cords tangled at the bottom of your bag mid-travel day, which is why this smart tech organizer never leaves my suitcase.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Use the bottom of a heavy glass or measuring cup to smash carrots, without breaking them, to about 1/2-inch thickness.—
Madalyn Bendgen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Maura’s got a soft spot in her heart for criminals, foreign or domestic.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Besides, Tom clearly has a soft spot for misfits.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The actress manages to pull this off with subtlety and grace in a movie that could have easily gone straight for the emotional jugular.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Two months before Twilight kicked off the glittery vampire craze, Alan Ball’s True Blood had already put an original, sexy spin on the jugular-draining genre.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share