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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Recent Examples of undergirds
Amid this vast landscape of solutions, no one can hope to find a precise microscopic configuration that undergirds our particular macroscopic world.
—
Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
But changing a country, changing an entire regime, because Iran isn't just run by a strong man, there's an entire philosophy, a theocratic philosophy that undergirds the Iranian government.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
But in doing so, the preservationists failed to bring the proper claim to test the statutory authority Trump claims undergirds his authority to proceed without Congress’s blessing, Leon said.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 26 Feb. 2026
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
Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
But changing a country, changing an entire regime, because Iran isn't just run by a strong man, there's an entire philosophy, a theocratic philosophy that undergirds the Iranian government.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
But in doing so, the preservationists failed to bring the proper claim to test the statutory authority Trump claims undergirds his authority to proceed without Congress’s blessing, Leon said.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 26 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirds
Verb
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The answer is that the chlorophyll pigment dominant in green leaves is more efficient at triggering photosynthesis — the process by which plants make the sugar that sustains them — than the pigments dominant in darker leaves.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
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Rimsky-Korsakov sustains that urgency, creating a narrative through music that moves and reshapes itself in surprising ways.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From his perspective, this approach supports a more cohesive working environment where teams can operate effectively without excessive oversight.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
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Walmart introduced an in-app ChatGPT service on Tuesday that supports linking, loyalty and Walmart payments, OpenAI said.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Of all the criteria the employer has to weigh, including personality and work ethic, the candidate’s ability to do the job carries the most weight.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
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The first offense carries a maximum of a year in county jail, according to the bill.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wemby bolsters his defensive-minded MVP case Wembanyama argued after Monday's win at Miami that his defensive excellence should factor into him winning MVP.—
Tom Orsborn,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Recent polling bolsters the belief among his possible primary foes that Fetterman could be vulnerable in 2028, with 62% of Pennsylvania Democrats disapproving of his job in a Quinnipiac poll released last month.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undergirds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirds. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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