as in underground
being, situated, or operating beneath the surface of the earth
a sandy wasteland that gave little hint of its subsurface wealth
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of subsurface
The team is set to land near the lunar south pole because previous evidence suggests that the area may contain subsurface water ice, per Gizmodo.
—
Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2022
Shallow pools of subsurface water froze and fractured the surface again and again.
—Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 22 Apr. 2022
This is an important scientific mission tasked with searching for ice at the south pole and using a one-meter drill to prospect for subsurface samples.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 20 Apr. 2022
In Greenland, the ridges formed when shallow pools of subsurface water froze, thawed and refroze, fracturing the surface over time, the Guardian reports.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for subsurface
Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2022
Shallow pools of subsurface water froze and fractured the surface again and again.
—Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 22 Apr. 2022
This is an important scientific mission tasked with searching for ice at the south pole and using a one-meter drill to prospect for subsurface samples.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 20 Apr. 2022
In Greenland, the ridges formed when shallow pools of subsurface water froze, thawed and refroze, fracturing the surface over time, the Guardian reports.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for subsurface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subsurface
Adjective
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Israel has struck Natanz repeatedly and claims to have hurt its underground facilities, which experts assess contain 10,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 60%.—
Natalie Melzer,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2025
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On June 13, Iran confirmed that Israel hit the Natanz nuclear facility, the country's main underground multi-level enrichment site.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Campos-Pons and Malak rose to the auspicious occasion of TATE Modern’s quarter century with an immersive performance that took the audience in the subterranean Tanks on a sensory journey, inviting reflection on universal themes of healing, resilience and transformation.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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These subterranean wonders offer both a science lesson and an adventure.—
Erin Gifford,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subsurface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subsurface. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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