Synonyms of undergird

undergird

verb

ˌən-dər-ˈgərd 

as in to sustain

to hold up or serve as a foundation for

the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sustain
• support
• carry
• bolster
• uphold
• stay
• underpin
• buttress
• underlie
• brace
• bear
• shore (up)
• prop (up)
• steady
• truss

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of undergird

The financial manipulations that undergirded their fortunes get scrutinized as theft from the public purse, praise for their courage and perspicacity yields to condemnation for their conduct. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Less apparent, though, is the dramatic shift in domestic security doctrine that undergirds these efforts. — Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026

The film’s observational intensity yields a form of symbolic realism that highlights both the action and its import—both the drama and the ideas and systems that undergird it. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026

This week, Ars hosted a live discussion with Ross Scott about the Stop Killing Games movement and its ongoing efforts to ensure that games remain playable even after the original publisher shuts down the online servers undergirding them. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!