undergirding

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 According to a blog published by the Council on Foreign Relations, the ins and outs of the crisis are complicated, but undergirding it all is the fact that the country is running out of hard currency. Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 3 Nov. 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
  • But that hope depends on sustaining the cease-fire, facilitating the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza at levels sufficient to match the enormous needs, and urgently restarting critical services, including education.
    Catherine Russell, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Isiah Pacheco won’t play Sunday after sustaining an injury late in last week’s win against Washington.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Fix the City, the PAC supporting Cuomo’s bid since the primary, spent millions on television ads for the former mayor and against Mamdani.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Pet Loss At Home, an organization of mobile veterinarians providing end-of-life care in the comfort of home, suggested that people supporting a grieving friend can send memorial gifts and flowers, or print photos of the pet to send along with a personalized card.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • China last tested its ICBM force in September 2024—its first since the 1980s—when a DF-31AG missile carrying a dummy warhead was fired toward international waters in the South Pacific, within the region's nuclear-free zone, according to a Newsweek map.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, continued carrying the 29 Starlink satellites toward LEO, where were deployed on schedule about an hour into flight.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Under head coach Mark Pope, the Wildcats bring back key guards like Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen, while bolstering the roster with blue-chip transfers and freshman talent, including Jaland Lowe and Kam Williams.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • General manager Mike Hazen blamed himself for not bolstering the club’s depth in 2025, which contributed to a disappointing fourth-place finish.
    Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The Florentine merchant was a committed letter writer and underpinning most of these letters was the ledger, containing the balance sheets of a whole host of businesses.
    Big Think, Big Think, 5 Nov. 2025
  • This offers a degree of clarity on supplies of the critical minerals, which are an essential component in the semiconductors underpinning the AI boom.
    Hugh Leask, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By upholding his virtue and revealing the emptiness of evil, Ignatius Maloyan earned sainthood, joining the enduring Communion of witnesses.
    Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • These convictions demonstrate the professionalism and dedication of Yosemite’s protection team in upholding federal regulations and ensuring the safety of both visitors and first responders.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Undergirding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirding. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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