as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology
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Recent Examples of undergirding
Every social theory undergirding Trumpism has been broken on the steel of Minnesotan resolve.
—
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
So age has been something that's always been undergirding.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Even on tour, fans go expecting dramatic catharsis to be undergirding all that glee.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Stepping away from living things, Vellend finds this dynamic at work in the development of violins and typewriters, in the technologies undergirding ChatGPT, and in the spread of cultural values like individualism.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
So age has been something that's always been undergirding.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Even on tour, fans go expecting dramatic catharsis to be undergirding all that glee.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Stepping away from living things, Vellend finds this dynamic at work in the development of violins and typewriters, in the technologies undergirding ChatGPT, and in the spread of cultural values like individualism.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirding
Verb
-
And for Hoka, sustaining double-digit percent growth over the medium term will depend on expansion into lifestyle.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
However, filmmakers, producers, distributors, sales agents, publicists, critics, sponsors, and former Sundance staff — many of whom credit the festival with launching or sustaining their careers — spoke on background or off the record.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The chair of the Federal Reserve is tasked with combating inflation in the United States while also supporting maximum employment.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Irving was caught when the State Police got a tip on May 29, 2025, from the smartphone messaging company Kik, which reported that three files shared on its platform appeared to be child pornography, according to a law enforcement affidavit supporting the charge.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The stars are going to be carrying the Olympic torches.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The small plane was carrying two crew members and 13 passengers, including Diógenes Quintero, 36, a member of the House of Representatives for Catatumbo, the airline said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Free cash flow is expected to remain strong, bolstering shareholder returns and balance sheet flexibility.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
But that may be changing, bolstering BYD’s expansion plans.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Nations that can reliably power the infrastructure underpinning advanced technologies will hold structural advantages in the 21st century.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Legal challenges to constitutional doctrines underpinning the modern American administrative state wend their way through increasingly sympathetic courts, promising sweeping changes to the ways our most important institutions act.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In upholding Sjostrom’s ruling on the non-resident petition gatherers issue, the appeals court offered similar reasoning as in its decision about the inactive-voters issue.—
Jim Saunders,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
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Since 1972, the Kerrville Folk Festival has been upholding the spirit of grassroots Texas music camaraderie.—
Mars Salazar,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undergirding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirding. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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