1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

underpins

verb

present tense third-person singular of underpin
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 Access to exceptional roughs underpins the entire collection. — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026 It's based on the company's MQB platform, which underpins the T-Cross subcompact SUV and the Polo hatchback. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026 Bouaddi’s ability to dribble calmly through pressure underpins a more general swagger to his game. — David Ornstein, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Those who approach privacy as a strategic basis rather than an afterthought are the greatest enterprises and communities that capitalize on AI’s transformational promise while maintaining the digital trust that underpins modern life. — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Known as Eurasianism, this conviction in the fundamental difference between Russia and the West at least partly underpins the Kremlin’s ruling ideology today. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Samsung achieved this seamless look by using an ultra-thin titanium alloy layer that underpins the flexible screen. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 16 Aug. 2026 The technology now underpins generations of high-performance processors. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026 Industrial capacity increasingly underpins supply chain resilience, defense readiness and national competitiveness. — Ariyan Kabir, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpins
  1. sustains
  2. supports
  3. carries
  4. bolsters
  5. upholds
Verb
  • The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation provides resources and support for artists, engages with the community, and sustains the legacy of its founding artists, Joan Beauregard and David Ellis.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Supported by Waugh’s muscular direction, Wilson and Ritchson work well together in a chase film whose thinly sketched premise barely sustains its wall-to-wall action sequences.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of sustains
Verb
  • The company currently supports more than 90,000 engines worldwide through its maintenance, repair, and overhaul network.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • When unfolded, the chassis doubles as an adjustable stand that supports front, rear, ceiling, and portrait projection modes.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of supports
Verb
  • Solomon Baggett paced the Arkansas State rushing attack, finishing with 63 yards on 13 carries.
    — Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Murray was limited to 33 yards on 16 carries against an inspired defense.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of carries
Verb
  • In the end, however, Missouri appears poised to use in November a map lawmakers passed in 2022, an extraordinary development that bolsters Cleaver’s chances of reelection and strikes a blow to Trump.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Their arrival in the Swiss festival’s gala program bolsters its position as an awards season stop-off.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of bolsters
Verb
  • In February, President Pamela Whitten and the board of trustees supported and adopted the Chicago Principles, a set of guidelines regarding how the university upholds its free speech environment.
    — Cate Charron, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The letter was also sent to Harry and Meghan’s team and upholds Queen Elizabeth’s wishes when Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal roles in 2020.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of upholds

Browse Nearby Words

underpinnings
underpins
underplay
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underpins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpins. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fungible

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All