1
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others
an underground operation to smuggle ancient artifacts out of the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subterranean
being, situated, or operating beneath the surface of the earth
an underground shopping mall that is part of the city's subway system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in resistance
a secret organization in a conquered country fighting against enemy forces
joined the underground while still a teenager
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in undercover
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 underground
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
Even the price tag of the new Mount Weather work is confidential, but contracting details suggest workers will must be skilled in both underground construction and HVAC equipment, including air handlers.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2025
The city this month began drilling at Del Prado Park, the first of several sites being explored to find safe, potable water underground.
—Kyle Martin, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025
On top of that, potato plants do most of their growing underground and may compete with watermelons for soil space.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for underground
Adjective
The 18 tracks feature a murderers’ row of underground producers, including many he’s worked with in the past — Segal, the Alchemist, Messiah Musik, Preservation — as well as El-P, Sadhugold, Ant from Atmosphere, Steel Tipped Dove, and Conductor Williams.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
Even the price tag of the new Mount Weather work is confidential, but contracting details suggest workers will must be skilled in both underground construction and HVAC equipment, including air handlers.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Noun
This retro aesthetic now defines a reborn British underground, one that has been in a full-court press for the last few weeks.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2025
The city this month began drilling at Del Prado Park, the first of several sites being explored to find safe, potable water underground.
—Kyle Martin, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025
Adverb
According to Morán, nearly all top members of the main opposition party, Vente Venezuela, have either been arrested or forced underground.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025
On top of that, potato plants do most of their growing underground and may compete with watermelons for soil space.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for underground
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underground
Adjective
-
The Gestapo, Hitler’s secret police, combed the Poles’ ranks in search of men with experience in clandestine resistance organizations.—
Paul Hockenos,
Smithsonian Magazine,
8 May 2025
-
Alongside the harbour in Lerwick are five fishing boats, once part of the clandestine Anglo-Norwegian Shetland Bus mission, and the wartime cargo ship Hestmanden.—
Heather Farmbrough,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Newer commissions, including Steve McQueen’s subterranean environment and work by Meg Webster and Senga Nengudi, offered further meditative moments.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
12 May 2025
-
Dirt offers excellent protection, so don’t be shocked to see more vehicle crews evolve into subterranean creatures as the war grinds on and more drones patrol the front line.—
David Axe,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
But the package faces mounting resistance from both ends of the Republican Party.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
20 May 2025
-
Some adaptations to infectious pathogens came at a cost, however: strengthening resistance to ancient diseases might have elevated the likelihood of immune overreaction.—
Kermit Pattison,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Samuel French, a Texas actor on the rise who portrayed the undercover FBI agent CJ Robinson in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, has died.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2025
-
Pisano has been with the show since his 2021 debut as undercover officer Detective Joe Velasco.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
That includes Tom Cruise, as covert CIA division agent Ethan Hunt, riding a motorcycle off a 4,000-foot cliff and BASE jumping the final 500 feet of a ravine, or the breathless climactic train mayhem in 2023’s Dead Reckoning, the opening installment of this two-parter.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2025
-
In an opinion piece published by the Venezuelan independent newspaper La Razón, former lawmaker Omar González Moreno recounted the covert mission that freed him and four others without a single shot being fired.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
The city’s unlawful camping ordinance prohibits camping, occupying camp facilities or using camp paraphernalia on public or private property.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2025
-
Domin encouraged residents to contact school district officials with ideas to work on private partnerships.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underground.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underground. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share