undergirding

verb

present participle of undergird
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 undergirding This week, Ars hosted a live discussion with Ross Scott about the Stop Killing Games movement and its ongoing efforts to ensure that games remain playable even after the original publisher shuts down the online servers undergirding them. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026 The gain helps cement Microsoft’s Azure as a leading cloud giant behind Amazon Web Services, and as one of the most prominent providers of the infrastructure undergirding the AI era. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 29 July 2026 Beyond the commercial aspect, the assumptions undergirding death positivity have begun to feel nearly as outdated as putting lipstick on a corpse. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 But for hardcore believers, this didn’t mean that the philosophy undergirding the Soviet experiment was wrong. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026 But there are key threads undergirding it. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 17 May 2026 OpenAI is at the heart of a web of deals undergirding the artificial intelligence boom that has helped power the entire stock market higher. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026 In the early 2000s it was shown that there are at least 10500 different configurations of the six compact dimensions, each theoretically undergirding a universe with different properties. — Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026 That fear, undergirding all of our hard work. — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirding
  1. sustaining
  2. supporting
  3. carrying
  4. bolstering
  5. underpinning
  6. upholding
Verb
  • God is present now, and there could never be a future moment when His sustaining presence is absent.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The next step is sustaining that work through the heavier demands of a season.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sustaining
Verb
  • Pink Pony is a flagship program of Ralph Lauren’s Timeless by Design 2030 citizenship and sustainability strategy, reflecting Ralph Lauren’s deep commitment to supporting the fight against cancer.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Furthermore, the models revealed the reservoir could hold between 350 million and 480 million cubic meters of gas while supporting a daily throughput of 750,000 cubic meters.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of supporting
Verb
  • The resulting frame weighs just six pounds without the battery, despite supporting a drone capable of carrying 110 pounds.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Hurling is one of Ireland’s national sports, and involves moving a ball down the field, either by hitting it or carrying it for up to four steps.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of carrying
Verb
  • The new mRNA vaccine has shown very good promise with bolstering immune response.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Rough Draft is launching a newsletter and print edition in Athens, bolstering the amount of dedicated local reporting in Georgia’s sixth-largest city.
    — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of bolstering
Verb
  • Hammer presents these economic theories as stone-cold truths without acknowledging the rather obvious ideological agenda underpinning his thinking.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Beale, his hands on his hips, turned to face Sigcho-Lopez in the latest manifestation of the bad blood underpinning the council’s deep philosophical divisions.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of underpinning
Verb
  • Kathleen Lord-Jones, an aviation cabin safety expert from Robson Forensic, explained the meticulous process of upholding food safety practices, from kitchen to tray table.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2026
  • And neither were the co-hosts, who felt their fun, feel-good, not-that-serious event was suddenly being accused of upholding white supremacy.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of upholding

Browse Nearby Words

undergirded
undergirding
undergirds
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Cite this Entry

“Undergirding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirding. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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