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

Relevance
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

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 underbellies The most caustic people in the world often have the softest underbellies — at least if Alden Ehrenreich is playing them. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026 Cashmere is expensive because these goats produce a limited amount of this precious fiber, found on their underbellies, and the process of obtaining the wool is labor-intensive. Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026 Humpbacks congregate here, creating pufflike splashes on the horizon and flashing their fins and underbellies at all distances. Darrell Hartman, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Aug. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbellies
Noun
  • When the gang comes to the attention of Major Chester Campbell, a DCI in the Royal Irish Constabulary, the wheels are set in motion for adventures through the dangerous underworlds of early 20th-century Britain.
    Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026
  • 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
  • Symptoms include angular red, purple, or brown lesions on the upper surfaces of leaves, often between veins, with whitish fungal growth on the undersides.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
  • The left and right rocker buttons located on the undersides of the glasses' temples adjust the audio volume and picture brightness, respectively.
    Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • His three-man defence regularly featured two ball-playing centre-backs either side of a more physical one, but the team as a whole was asymmetrical.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • The bright spots Saturday, at least in the early stages, was the play of the Evans defense, new quarterback Will Jackson and transfer running backs O’Ryan Hartfield, from Ocoee, and Davion Williams, from Poinciana.
    Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • The bottoms don’t just feel more elegant, but are a quick way to make outfits appear upscale whether they’re styled with a T-shirt and sneakers or a button-up shirt and ballet flats.
    Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
  • One of the photos showed her mixing and matching the colors, wearing a green top with blue bottoms, accessorizing with a blue cropped jacket.
    Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Noun
  • Their bond — both are outsiders who suffered abuse as children — is one of the few emotional soft spots in the otherwise fast-moving series about America’s rotten power structure, manipulative media and the gullibility of the public.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • Watch for soft spots on floors, uneven or sloping flooring, cracks in walls and warped materials.
    Ryan Brennan May 8, Kansas City Star, 8 May 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
  • The result is a fiery and impassioned offering that finds the veteran fully engaged and intent on proving no chinks have been left in his armor despite his tenuous back-and-forth with his Compton counterpart.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 15 May 2026
  • Does the bazaar allow for chinks in the kind of class barriers that would usually exist?
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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