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
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
While profits boomed in the US, the rest of the world wasn’t shabby either, undergirding calls to diversify away from American stocks into megacaps in Asia and Europe.
—Michael Msika, Bloomberg, 1 Mar. 2026
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
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
While profits boomed in the US, the rest of the world wasn’t shabby either, undergirding calls to diversify away from American stocks into megacaps in Asia and Europe.
—Michael Msika, Bloomberg, 1 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirding
Verb
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Then Matthew Boyd needed surgery on the meniscus in his left knee this week, sustaining the injury while playing at home with his kids.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
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Margaret moved into his battle station and fought bravely, sustaining three gunshot wounds, until the British captured the post.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Expanding access to high-quality early education, supporting the workforce behind it, and giving families clearer information is all part of the solution.—
Tina Dello Russo,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
In general, Korean skin care is often formulated with lower-irritation potential and barrier-supporting ingredients, which can be helpful if your skin concerns include dull skin or working toward a more even skin tone—especially for those with sensitive skin.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Others may use hollow pipes, tubes, window ledges or even sliding door tracks (a favorite site for the grass-carrying wasp).—
Pamm Cooper,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Lerner’s critical reputation is also through the roof, each new book carrying the weight of potentially being a moment of great artistic import.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The government has thrown a lot of money at bolstering security for the Jewish population.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
The Iran war is bolstering that argument even more.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Her refrains center the desires underpinning MAITREYA CORSO.—
Caitlin Wolper Phillips,
Pitchfork,
4 May 2026
-
Quarterly earnings from the hyperscalers like Alphabet and Microsoft released this week showed solid cloud revenues underpinning capex that could top $1 trillion by the end of next year, and memory prices are poised to be a key driver of those costs.—
Tobias Burns,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Even outside of the realm of images, and speaking more generally to all professional practices in PR and advertising, truth is vital to upholding professional credibility.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
-
Under the county charter, the executive’s responsibilities include overseeing the county’s municipal departments, correcting errors in tax assessments, executing certain contracts, upholding the county charter and representing the county in general.—
Ilana Arougheti
May 6,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undergirding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirding. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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