Definition of undergirdnext
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 The second inaccuracy that undergirds this executive order is that there is rampant fraud in mail-in voting. John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026 The administration’s vocal accusations that allies have moved away from commitments to democracy, free speech, and other values that undergird Western civilization, particularly noted in Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the 2025 Munich Security Conference, further deteriorated the relationship. Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2026 For gamblers, especially younger ones who are just starting to earn and build the savings that will undergird their retirements, that can mean life-altering losses of wealth and financial stability. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 Even cheaper or open-source AI models from smaller companies could soon enable this sort of hacking—which would unsettle the basic security and privacy that undergird the modern internet. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undergird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergird
Verb
  • Harris said the officer sustained serious injuries but had since recovered.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
  • The political leadership of both of our major parties must step up to sustain the research enterprise in our public and private universities.
    Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Create an inner and outer sanctuary that supports your emotional needs.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • Mangione’s lawyers had faced a deadline Thursday to provide prosecutors with information to support the emotional disturbance claim.
    Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • The pressure is already building, not because anyone is choosing to merge the systems but because people are starting to carry insights from one AI into the other.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
  • The diamonds finally arrived in April 2026, carrying a significance that went far beyond the finished stones themselves.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • Countries affected by the disruption are expected to bolster energy stockpiles, direct resources to ramp up domestic production, and pursue alternative supply routes to reduce dependence on a single chokepoint.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 19 June 2026
  • Such lifting of sanctions all but guarantees that the Iranian regime will be bolstered mere months after protests brought it to the brink of collapse.
    Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Undergird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergird. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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