as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology

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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 undergird New manufacturing facilities, such as those making semiconductors, and the data centers that undergird the country’s artificial intelligence ambitions consume unprecedented amounts of electricity. Brian Deese, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2025 For much of the film, that enticing idea undergirds the main plot line like a ticking time bomb. Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025 In addition, the disruption at the CDC could jeopardize many local health services undergirded by the agency’s support and expertise, Schuchat noted. Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025 He may yet be proved wrong, but, after three years and counting, this is the fundamental assumption that undergirds his thinking on matters of war and peace. Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for undergird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergird
Verb
  • Some employees sustained minor injuries.
    NPR, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Space agencies and private companies are working to bridge the gap between imagination and possibility, developing new life-support systems, medical technologies, and spacecraft capable of sustaining humans beyond Earth’s orbit.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • One woman’s attempt to balance her own celebration while supporting her sister’s engagement has spiraled into a year-long feud.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • If elected, Dahle said his main priority is to ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources while supporting the district’s mission of providing high-quality education for all students.
    Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Running back Chase Brown had his best game of the year on the ground, rushing for 108 yards on just 11 carries against the Pittsburgh defense.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Washington also had a 48-yard run on the Razorbacks’ first drive and finished with 147 yards on 16 carries.
    Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker are getting ready for the holiday season by bolstering its staff by approximately 14,000 seasonal employees this year.
    Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The tech titan has intensified its efforts to bolster affordable housing in recent years.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025

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“Undergird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergird. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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