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
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

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 underbelly Washington and Lee’s first collaboration was for Mo’ Better Blues in 1990 and the jazz-forward film has ties with their latest project that also takes place in the underbelly of the New York music scene. Malik Peay, Essence, 13 Aug. 2025 Pound away at the disturbing underbelly that AI lies and makes things up. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025 The story kicks off her new North Falls series, which will explore the dark underbelly of a small town community in Georgia through the eyes of police officer Emmy Clifton. Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025 Apparently the finest cashmere comes from the soft fiber combed from the underbelly of Mongolian goats. Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 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
  • The second is a vehicle plate integrated into the underside of the Cayenne EV.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Clasp the underside of your thighs with both hands, hinge back, and lift your feet until your lower legs are parallel to the floor.
    Health Editorial Team, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • One of these is Trent Alexander-Arnold but, as The Athletic has reported, a position change to midfield was not discussed in depth during the process of his transfer from Liverpool as Madrid saw him as one of the best right-backs in the world.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Plus, the rust-tone orange is vibrant, and the strings on the back keep the cushions firmly in place.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But the name on the bottom of the letter didn’t belong to a law firm.
    Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The Marlins scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth.
    Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 10 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

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Cite this Entry

“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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