as in sustains
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
the central beliefs that underpin a free society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 underpins
The universe built for the manga – its characters, factions, and lore – also underpins Azuki TCG, the company’s trading card game, which topped $1 million in direct-to-player presales before its retail release.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2026
The company hopes those benchmarks can serve as the foundation for a futures market, much as West Texas Intermediate crude oil underpins energy derivatives.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 16 June 2026
At the heart of this tradition sits maqam, the melodic system that underpins Arabic classical music.
—Daniel Scheffler, SPIN, 15 June 2026
That philosophy underpins much of their work.
—Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The three-nation agreement underpins $2 trillion in annual trade and has, over the years, knitted several economic sectors across the borders together.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
The first Audi Quattro was wildly different to anything that had come before, using the quattro system that still underpins current Audis, including the Nuvolari, and its design clearly communicated that.
—Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 8 June 2026
Together, these individuals reflect the diversity that underpins this country—and remains one of its greatest calling cards.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
The researchers used the information to train an artificial neural network — the same system that underpins large language models such as ChatGPT.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2026
The company hopes those benchmarks can serve as the foundation for a futures market, much as West Texas Intermediate crude oil underpins energy derivatives.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 16 June 2026
At the heart of this tradition sits maqam, the melodic system that underpins Arabic classical music.
—Daniel Scheffler, SPIN, 15 June 2026
That philosophy underpins much of their work.
—Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
The three-nation agreement underpins $2 trillion in annual trade and has, over the years, knitted several economic sectors across the borders together.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
The first Audi Quattro was wildly different to anything that had come before, using the quattro system that still underpins current Audis, including the Nuvolari, and its design clearly communicated that.
—Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 8 June 2026
Together, these individuals reflect the diversity that underpins this country—and remains one of its greatest calling cards.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
The researchers used the information to train an artificial neural network — the same system that underpins large language models such as ChatGPT.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpins
Verb
-
Pascale’s cello generally swoops and sustains while Katzmann’s saxophone jitters in search.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
-
Integrity sustains football’s ability to inspire trust and respect.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
With locations in Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Wheeling, and Chicago, Avenues supports individuals with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disabilities and is committed to long-term care, community integration, and disability advocacy.—
Gina Grillo,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
-
Flat printing followed by folding supports efficient transport and on-site assembly, potentially transforming how large-scale components are manufactured.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Cancer June 21 – July 22 Cancer, your voice carries extra care.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2026
-
June 21 – July 22 Cancer, your voice carries extra care.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
The appearance from Vance only bolsters that case.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
-
The downturn bolsters the longstanding theory that the Bitcoin market follows the dictates of US election cycles.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Thrash, whose latest project is a benefit gala at the Palace of Versailles planned for June 8, upholds a long tradition of American philanthropy in support of French cultural institutions.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
26 May 2026
-
Islam, like Christianity, upholds the dignity of every human being and encourages dialogue and reconciliation over conflict.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underpins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpins. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
