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
From their tables, the patrons got a front row view of the underbelly of Westport.
—
Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
The explosive growth and permissive regulatory environment has ignited a debate about the underbelly of an industry that essentially turns many features of modern life into potential monetary wins and losses.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 17 Jan. 2026
Their typically bristly fur is peppered with shades of brown and gray, with a white underbelly.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
The underbelly of cities that have great wealth has been a theme in your work, particularly your films set in Portland.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2026
The explosive growth and permissive regulatory environment has ignited a debate about the underbelly of an industry that essentially turns many features of modern life into potential monetary wins and losses.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 17 Jan. 2026
Their typically bristly fur is peppered with shades of brown and gray, with a white underbelly.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
The underbelly of cities that have great wealth has been a theme in your work, particularly your films set in Portland.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
-
At the bottom of the composition is the figure of Charon, a personage from Greek mythology who rowed souls over the river Styx to enter the pagan underworld.—
Virginia Raguin,
The Conversation,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Ultimately, Brobbey’s brief, if terrifying, brush with Amsterdam’s criminal underworld has not derailed his football career.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Narratives Waymo provided on other collisions include one in which a speed bump hit the underside of one of its vehicles on southbound I-35 Frontage Road near East 51st Street.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Its green leaves have a silvery underside for beautiful dimension, while the flowers are white, showy, and fragrant.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The sexy space holds just 20 seats at the bar, and definitely pop into the antique confessional in the back for a photo opp.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The micro-style, trimmed with frills along the back, quickly found its way onto creator Devon Lee Carlson and rap artist Sexy Redd at Coachella, before subsequently selling out on the brand’s site.—
Amy Francombe,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There are even redemption arcs, like that of Shane, the town alcoholic who turns around his bottom-of-a-bottle fortunes with a love for raising chickens.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Acquired two days before the Olympic break in a trade with the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Liam Greentree and draft picks, the 34-year-old Russian winger showed promising signs for a team near the bottom of the league in beating opposing goaltenders.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And suddenly, somehow, the Olympics became her soft spot, the site of crippling vulnerability.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Many were surprised when the chicken salad sandwich was taken off the menu in 2017, primarily because so many people have a longtime soft spot for the unique cold-spread sandwich.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The actress manages to pull this off with subtlety and grace in a movie that could have easily gone straight for the emotional jugular.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Two months before Twilight kicked off the glittery vampire craze, Alan Ball’s True Blood had already put an original, sexy spin on the jugular-draining genre.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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