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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Recent Examples of subsurface
Evaluation protocols of subsurface measurements and training of all rig site personnel have improved the drilling economics of this geothermal project.
—
Ian Palmer, Forbes, 19 May 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
So Marco Mastrogiuseppe, a researcher on the Cassini team who had used instruments like RADAR to map subsurface water on Mars, decided to try something.
—Liz Kruesi, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2015
See All Example Sentences for subsurface
Ian Palmer, Forbes, 19 May 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
So Marco Mastrogiuseppe, a researcher on the Cassini team who had used instruments like RADAR to map subsurface water on Mars, decided to try something.
—Liz Kruesi, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2015
See All Example Sentences for subsurface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subsurface
Adjective
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For the next two years, David spent most of his time held captive in underground tunnels built beneath the Gaza Strip.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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The casino also will have a players lounge; 11 bars, including a center bar and a sports bar; and 3,500 parking spaces, consisting of a 2,700-space underground parking garage and 800 surface parking spaces.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The project also includes a subterranean parking structure with 41 spaces.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
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Whether upstairs at Momotaro, with its elevated mix of sushi and robata-yaki, or downstairs at its subterranean sibling Izakaya at Momotaro, sake is central to the experience here.—
Anna Lee Iijima,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subsurface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subsurface. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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