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

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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 This inference takeover underpins AMD’s latest hardware push. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 23 July 2026 That principle — sacrificing to help those not doing so well — still underpins the region’s business model. — Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 14 July 2026 What is the philosophy that underpins Elon Musk’s varied ventures, from Tesla to SpaceX to DOGE? — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 That underpins Pennington’s confidence that her customers will still value human financial advisers even as technology becomes more sophisticated at anticipating their needs. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 10 July 2026 The listing also comes as investors assess whether SK Hynix can maintain its lead in the fast-growing HBM market that underpins AI accelerators. — Lee Ying Shan,jenny Lee, CNBC, 10 July 2026 There are also three fixes for the Kernel, the engine that underpins the operating system. — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Yet both underscore a defining characteristic of American democracy – the delicate yet shifting equilibrium among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches that underpins the business of governing. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 30 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpins
  1. sustains
  2. supports
  3. carries
  4. bolsters
  5. upholds
Verb
  • The pacing sometimes goes slack, but even when the narrative starts wandering, Simple Town boasts a goofy magnetism that sustains the movie astonishingly well.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 July 2026
  • At least this time, the voice of my people, deprived of their rights by the zombie state and the American government that sustains it, was heard.
    — Rafael Osío Cabrices, Time, 20 July 2026
Definition of sustains
Verb
  • The American Friends of Magen David Adom supports Israel’s emergency services system, according to the organization’s website.
    — Caroline Zimmerman July 17, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • February 19 – March 20 Home may need a reset that supports your nervous system, not just the room.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Definition of supports
Verb
  • The annual soccer schedule is already jam-packed, each additional 90 minutes carries more injury risk, and most of these players star on club teams whose seasons kick off in a month.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 18 July 2026
  • Under California law, conviction on such a charge typically carries up to a year in county jail.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of carries
Verb
  • The Justice Department also argues that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that states may ban transgender girls from female sports team bolsters its case.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • In a broadly sweet, vivacious and gorgeously sung set Tuesday, that sentiment revealed the moral clarity that bolsters her songs about devotion and intimacy.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of bolsters
Verb
  • If the District Court upholds the denial, your application is considered exhausted.
    — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 21 July 2026
  • For many, this new-build option upholds preferential aesthetics while satisfying practical needs and eliminating restoration headaches.
    — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 20 July 2026
Definition of upholds

Browse Nearby Words

underpinnings
underpins
underplay
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Cite this Entry

“Underpins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpins. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of underpins for Spanish Speakers

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