underbellies

Definition of underbelliesnext
plural of underbelly
1
as in underworlds
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream unable to get work in mainstream films, the actor ended up in Hollywood's underbelly—the porn industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
as in backs
a vulnerable point the vast, thinly guarded southern border was obviously the underbelly of the nation's line of defense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbellies
Noun
  • For Aronofsky, the city’s ethnic blend has no special claim on virtue; there seem to be as many criminal underworlds as there are demographic groups.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • These generally appear as white bumps or specks that encrust the stems, branches, and undersides of leaves and suck the sap.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Examine your satin pothos for signs of pests, paying close attention to the undersides of the leaves and any crevices between the stems and petioles.
    Cori Sears, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Whether or not 2024 second-round pick Renardo Green gets traded in the next month, the 49ers seem committed to young defensive backs, including safeties Malik Mustapha, Ji’Ayir Brown and Marques Sigle.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
  • So far, Sullivan has signed nine defensive backs.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • So here’s your sign (and mine) to cue up your breezy bottoms for spring.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Line the bottoms of your plant pots with a layer of dryer lint to help plants retain moisture and keep soil from spilling out.
    Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The narrators have soft spots for various failings.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Just monitor some soft spots in the schedule coming up — upcoming opponents like the Kings, Sharks, Kraken and Red Wings haven’t been scoring goals at a very high rate lately.
    Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Once Woll’s bratty vamp was through draining jugulars, the actress found a second signature role as Karen Page on Marvel’s Daredevil (2015–2018).
    Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Does the bazaar allow for chinks in the kind of class barriers that would usually exist?
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
  • But after the break, the Americans started to find some chinks in the English armour.
    Peter Carline, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Underbellies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbellies. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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