underpins

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

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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 underpins There is a science of habit development that underpins development. Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 Perhaps his long, not-so-scenic route to the national team underpins the sense that trusting him to be a major performer has not come easily to coach Julian Nagelsmann. Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 21 June 2026 Leonardo was granted the patent for the technology that underpins SignalTrace two years ago. Adam Ismail, The Drive, 17 June 2026 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 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 Audi Ur-Quattro (1980) 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpins
Verb
  • The push out of their respective comfort zones is sweaty, arduous, and, the series suggests, exactly the kind of exertion that sustains a relationship.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • Pascale’s cello generally swoops and sustains while Katzmann’s saxophone jitters in search.
    Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • In turn, sleep quality, which physical conditioning directly supports, governs how effectively a leader's prefrontal cortex manages complex trade-offs and scenarios under pressure.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 24 June 2026
  • The decision supports renewal of the project’s Source Materials License for another 20 years, leaving a safety evaluation as the final major review before the license can move forward.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Yet such an approach carries the risk of more violent swings in stock and bond prices, analysts say, and ultimately could lead to higher interest rates for consumers and businesses.
    Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 20 June 2026
  • Fans split over who carries the blame, from the fighter and his team to the commission and the promotion.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 20 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

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“Underpins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpins. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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