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 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29 July 2026 Beyond the commercial aspect, the assumptions undergirding death positivity have begun to feel nearly as outdated as putting lipstick on a corpse.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 Instruments drift in and out, sometimes accreting into subtle polyrhythms or harmonies, and other times lightly undergirding Ederra’s gorgeous runs. Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirding
Verb
  • The company pointed to research from the UK AI Security Institute showing that advanced models are increasingly capable of sustaining complex, multi-step cyber operations over extended periods.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
  • It is found in building the enduring capacity of leaders and teams to adapt while sustaining performance.
    Tony Gambill, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Kenneth Dale Richardson was arrested by Lewisville police in the 1200 block of northbound Interstate Highway 35 East after a witness called to report a reckless driver, according to an affidavit supporting the arrest.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
  • There’s no new scientific information supporting that the virus might instead have leaked from a laboratory, a theory Paul champions.
    Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • That was part of his wider goal of sending endless waves of bomb-carrying drones and robots to hit Russian encampments in a bid to sharply reduce Ukraine’s casualties.
    Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Then in April, one of the company’s ships was passing Puerto Rico between two other jobs while carrying an advanced underwater drone with the right sensors to find the plane.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • The Twins would love to enhance their position by further bolstering the bullpen.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The study further demonstrates that bolstering SORLA has potential as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies (a group of brain disorders defined by the buildup of abnormal tau protein).
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Its power comes from the base material underpinning the menu – masa, lovingly made by owner and chef Emmanuel Galvan.
    John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
  • The medical methodology underpinning everything here was developed by Dr Franz Xaver Mayr, a 19th-century Austrian physician who became convinced that the health of the digestive system was the key to overall wellbeing.
    Jamie Timson, TheWeek, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • Sumrall, though, is focused on developing talent and upholding high standards.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • After the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, interpreters understood Temple service broadly in terms of study, prayer, and upholding the commandments.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Undergirding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirding. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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