as in sustains
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of undergirds
Washington and Lee’s commitment to freedom of expression undergirds its ethos of civility.
—
Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The measurement for streaming viewership has come under fire in recent weeks, notably against Nielsen, which provides the third-party ratings currency that undergirds the $5 billion-plus TV advertising market.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 15 Sep. 2025
For much of the film, that enticing idea undergirds the main plot line like a ticking time bomb.
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
He may yet be proved wrong, but, after three years and counting, this is the fundamental assumption that undergirds his thinking on matters of war and peace.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The measurement for streaming viewership has come under fire in recent weeks, notably against Nielsen, which provides the third-party ratings currency that undergirds the $5 billion-plus TV advertising market.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 15 Sep. 2025
For much of the film, that enticing idea undergirds the main plot line like a ticking time bomb.
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
He may yet be proved wrong, but, after three years and counting, this is the fundamental assumption that undergirds his thinking on matters of war and peace.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirds
Verb
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According to Dumas, whether justified or not, confidence sustains effort long enough for skill and clarity to catch up.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
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Visiting these wineries often means supporting a multi-generational family business that sustains local traditions in a way large commercial estates cannot.—
Taryn White,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The simulator also supports different vehicle types.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
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The Bluetooth chipset also supports multi-point pairing so that two devices can be connected at the same time.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Nix’s absence naturally carries plenty of weight, fill-in Jarrett Stidham is far from incompetent.—
Juan Carlos Blanco,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Now Michael Leon is behind bars, facing charges of murdering his wife with a gun, which carries 50 years to life in prison.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This bolsters my opinion that whoever drives the car should choose the music.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
18 Jan. 2026
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Amazon has been increasingly encroaching on Walmart’s turf, even as Walmart bolsters its e-commerce operations, signaling its intent to further expand its physical footprint and grocery offerings.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undergirds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirds. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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