1
as in underworld
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
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2
as in underside
the side or part facing downward from something
the underbelly of the old submarine is in bad shape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in back
a vulnerable point
the vast, thinly guarded southern border was obviously the underbelly of the nation's line of defense
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underbelly
The film’s first trailer hinted at something frisky and fun and glossy, with a thrilling underbelly, a sexy and wild outing that will put Ibsen in an entirely new light.
—
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025
Riverdale was steeped in a Twin Peaks-like noir and followed the underbelly of the small town where Archie and the gang lived.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Under Horner’s wing, Eddie is reborn as adult film star Dirk Diggler — a character whose rise and fall exposes the dark underbelly of the industry and the price of fame.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Pound away at the disturbing underbelly that AI lies and makes things up.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025
Riverdale was steeped in a Twin Peaks-like noir and followed the underbelly of the small town where Archie and the gang lived.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Under Horner’s wing, Eddie is reborn as adult film star Dirk Diggler — a character whose rise and fall exposes the dark underbelly of the industry and the price of fame.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Pound away at the disturbing underbelly that AI lies and makes things up.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
-
During one storyline, Angela travels to the Norse underworld known as Hel to resurrect Sera after her death.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
9 Sep. 2025
-
He is soon pulled into an underworld of drugs, violence, escalating dangers and missing bodies.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For bonus organization, label the sheet sizes with masking tape on the underside of the shelf above each stack.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
For gaps along soffits (the underside of a roof's overhang), exterior caulk or spray foam designed for outdoor use works well.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Besides its many uses in cooking, a lavender plant adds fragrance and color wherever it's planted—along a path, beside a patio, or in a pot on your back deck—thanks to a long blooming season.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Of course, the only reason Oracle is in this position is down to Ellison’s courting of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, which has allowed his company, previously a distinct back-of-the-pack cloud company, to secure a massive stockpile of top-of-the-line Nvidia GPUs.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Fine arts at the bottom seems to have some rationale to it.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The list of list surveyed is, as ever, at the bottom.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Buy fresh-looking pumpkins without blemishes, soft spots, or rotting stems.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Despite the slight decline on Friday, stocks are still pricing in low odds of recession and forecasting that the Fed will begin rate cuts soon enough for this to remain a soft spot in the labor market rather than a full-fledged downturn.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
My bullet had penetrated the neck between the jugular and the bone, missing the spine by a fraction.—
Robert Easton,
Outdoor Life,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Zachary Naegele, 24, was competing at the Conley Invitational in Palmetto, Florida, last week when the bull’s horn punctured his jugular, causing blood to stream out in a heart-pounding, caught-on-camera moment.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
15 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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