Definition of undergirdnext
as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology

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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 undergird For gamblers, especially younger ones who are just starting to earn and build the savings that will undergird their retirements, that can mean life-altering losses of wealth and financial stability. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026 Even cheaper or open-source AI models from smaller companies could soon enable this sort of hacking—which would unsettle the basic security and privacy that undergird the modern internet. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026 The frontier myth undergirded their policies. Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026 In the summer of 2020, massive riots erupted over the murder of George Floyd, undergirded by a powerful social justice movement. Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undergird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergird
Verb
  • The menu is full of sustaining stews, ample vegetables and, from the toné (clay oven), khachapuri, a genre of breads infiltrated by cheese and by turns fluffy, elastic, oozy and tender.
    Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
  • Lamb, the network’s president, had been suffering from serious health issues before sustaining a back injury that caused her health to deteriorate, the network said in a statement.
    John Seewer, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Your browser does not support the video tag.
    Sam Warren, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • That’s not supported by the data.
    James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • The flight to Australia will carry six passengers, and another to the Netherlands will take 18, with both flights also taking passengers from other countries that did not send their own repatriation flights, according to Reuters.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 11 May 2026
  • Anthony Edwards isn’t 100 percent with knee issues, but still carried the Timberwolves with 36 points.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • But the videos have also appeared to bolster his popularity online, which Woolley said could force his opponents to take him more seriously.
    Angela Yang, NBC news, 15 May 2026
  • In 2024, the Biden administration set aside $20 billion to bolster port security initiatives over the next five years.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Undergird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergird. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

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