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
The soft underbelly has been exposed time after time and, even on a day when there was more organisation, determination and resilience than in previous displays, that underlying weakness was still exploited before the end.
—
Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
The primary retracting wheels flank the brush roll, with an omnidirectional caster wheel at the front of the underbelly.
—PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2025
Love planet Venus starts retrograding in your enigmatic eighth house on March 1, prompting a review of the hidden underbelly of all your closest bonds.
—Nina Kahn, StyleCaster, 24 Feb. 2025
Not all barn owls have white underbellies, however; some have reddish-brown plumage instead.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
The primary retracting wheels flank the brush roll, with an omnidirectional caster wheel at the front of the underbelly.
—PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2025
Love planet Venus starts retrograding in your enigmatic eighth house on March 1, prompting a review of the hidden underbelly of all your closest bonds.
—Nina Kahn, StyleCaster, 24 Feb. 2025
Not all barn owls have white underbellies, however; some have reddish-brown plumage instead.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
-
Meanwhile, a deviant killer operating in the yakuza underworld seems to be shadowing their moves.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
1 May 2025
-
Amidst Texas’s fiercest heat-wave on the eve of Ramadan fasting, three young Muslims reluctantly plunge into a crime spree to save their community, confronting the gritty underworld of Houston and their own struggle for power.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
On the underside of the laptop, the dual batteries are designed for hot-swapping, while the M.2-format storage drive can also be swapped without tools.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Look for eggs that are usually laid on the underside of the leaves.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Players took a knee as a medical cart came out for the fan who was on his back.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2025
-
This man fell flat on his back, quickly did a little barrel roll thing, gathered himself and still had time to locate the ball and make a flippantly awesome catch.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The short-term tax burden of tariffs is about 2.5 times greater for those at the bottom, the Yale analysis found.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Arrange the shards in a layer in the bottom of your planter.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Independent study charter schools are a soft spot in California’s vaccine laws, data show — Was this newsletter forwarded to you?—
Phil Willon,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Neal McDonough has played some of TV’s toughest characters, but his soft spot is his wife of over 20 years, Ruvé McDonough.—
Jane LaCroix,
People.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Zachary Naegele, 24, was competing at the Conley Invitational in Palmetto, Florida, last week when the bull’s horn punctured his jugular, causing blood to stream out in a heart-pounding, caught-on-camera moment.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Gone are the days of Ami Cusack cutting down men without hesitation or Natalie Bolton flossing her teeth with Jason Siska’s jugular.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share