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
Capital expenditures—capex, meaning the big-ticket purchases that fund the data centers, servers, and power infrastructure undergirding the AI race—is fueling record-high, multi-trillion dollar tech valuations when investors think the spending is warranted.
—
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
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
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirding
Verb
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Singleton acknowledged that sustaining the coordinated, multi-agency model beyond the World Cup will be difficult once the spotlight fades.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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The breath of air, and the freedom of movement, only reinforce the moral asphyxiation taking place inside—and emphasize the unyielding authority sustaining the city’s public life.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The active component in milk thistle seeds, silymarin, has been shown in some studies to increase glutathione levels naturally up to 35-50% by protecting liver cells and supporting their function.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2026
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The presenters discussed how periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that worsens with age, affects the bone and tissues supporting the teeth.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The post included a photo of a teen carrying a realistic-looking toy pistol, which was captured by a doorbell camera in 2024, said Ziggy Azarcon, public information officer with the Irvine Police Department.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Blue Ghost will land on the lunar far side carrying LuSee Night, which will deploy directly from the spacecraft.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Reporting to Russo, founder and art director, and Sandrine Guétin, deputy general manager, she is charged with bolstering the agency’s brand presence.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
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The surge in home prices has slowed while income gains have accelerated, bolstering the purchasing power of homebuyers, some analysts noted.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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More intriguing, though, is the strategy underpinning Tulah’s rollout, which upends the blueprint deployed by most operators in this sector.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2026
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Industry insiders explained how the assortment of signals and models underpinning the algorithms are helping the sector navigate precious metals’ wild ride.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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School administrators are squeezed between upholding the First Amendment rights of students and caving to pressures from Texas leaders who have warned of state takeovers.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Let it not be lost that IOC is a Western institution that has an interest in upholding the way of life Russia threatens.—
Sean Strockyj,
New York Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undergirding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirding. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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