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
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2
as in underside
the side or part facing downward from something
the underbelly of the old submarine is in bad shape
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underbelly
Yet all the eerie soundscapes and rabbit-hole mysteries and exposed underbellies wouldn’t amount to a Lynchian text without the surplus of feeling that characterizes, say, Laura’s heartbreaking recognition of her abuser, in Fire Walk With Me.
—
K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
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The film is a genre-bending, neo-noir and psychological drama set in the ’90s following a former baseball player brought into a criminal underworld.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
13 June 2025
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Ever since Homer's The Odyssey, storytellers have been fascinated with traveling beneath the surface of the Earth into the mysterious underworld.—
David Szondy
June 08,
New Atlas,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
If your cloth mat has a non-stick material on the underside, do not put it in the dryer.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
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The ports on the charger are on the underside so cables hang from the ports which puts less strain on them and should help the charging cables last longer.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
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With Haliburton a non-factor, Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam put the Pacers on his back as Indiana continued its quest for another epic playoff comeback.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
17 June 2025
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That, and the fact that she’s had a lifelong battle with a bad back.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
17 June 2025
Noun
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The Orion constellation is at the bottom left, while Jupiter is just left of the center and Venus is on the far right.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
12 June 2025
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In the first game, the Dodgers and Astros were tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the 10th.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
Noun
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After all, the dogs have spent most of their life with Keyser, who said he's always had a soft spot for dogs.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
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The Dodgers, even in May, are acting like a team that cannot afford a soft spot in their lineup even twice a week (when starting catcher Will Smith catches a breath).—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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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
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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 24 Jun. 2025.
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