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 Communities without robust connectivity face steeper barriers to jobs, skills training, and the economic stability that underpins long-term health. — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The technology now underpins generations of high-performance processors. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026 Stuff Bubble had already started down the path prior to meeting with VW, having installed its modules in the Multivan that underpins the entire California series. — New Atlas, 11 Aug. 2026 Industrial capacity increasingly underpins supply chain resilience, defense readiness and national competitiveness. — Ariyan Kabir, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 Although speculation still underpins much of crypto's business, companies are trying to build a second growth engine by turning agents into users of crypto wallets, stablecoins and payment networks. — Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 Starship, which underpins Musk’s longer-term goals in space, has faced a rocky development path marred by explosive setbacks, malfunctions and delays — at a cost of $15 billion and running. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 That same pivot underpins a wider incubator-style model, from the BFC Mini MBA and business resilience programs to experiments in unlocking subsidized studio space via the patron network. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 29 July 2026 Open-source software underpins internet infrastructure and is incorporated into much of the world’s modern technology, including products offered by major tech companies such as Microsoft. — Renee Dudley, ProPublica, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpins
  1. sustains
  2. supports
  3. carries
  4. bolsters
  5. upholds
Verb
  • Lê is interested in all the activity that fills a day, in its movement and sound, and attentive to the busy ecosystem that surrounds and sustains his principal characters.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • However, stocks of major infrastructure players, including Hewlett Packard, likely have more room to run as a boom in artificial intelligence data centers sustains a longer, but still cyclical, infrastructure upcycle, according to Morgan Stanley.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of sustains
Verb
  • Because growing the rice itself is not profitable, even with historic high prices for Japanese rice, the company supports the agricultural costs through side ventures including a restaurant and an ice cream brand launched this summer.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Check the actual cost, state your terms plainly, and choose the option that supports both confidence and stability today without undercutting yourself.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of supports
Verb
  • The Ravens also went with an all-rookie running back rotation, and the trio of fifth-round pick Adam Randall and undrafted rookies Elijah Tau-Tolliver and Dontae McMillan combined for 128 rushing yards on 31 carries.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The temple's dark roofs slope toward the misty Saitama hills, while the damp mountain air carries the scent of incense from this historic pilgrimage start.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of carries
Verb
  • Marketing material for the serum asserts that mineral-rich comfrey bolsters bones, tendons and ligaments and noni stimulates circulation and supports detoxification.
    — Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Now, their emergence in AEW bolsters the company’s tag team division.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 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 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of underpins for Spanish Speakers

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