1
as in supported
to lie underneath
A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.
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2
as in grounded
to form the basis or foundation of (something, such as an idea)
The assumption that underlies their argument is faulty.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of underlay
This conviction underlay the Victorian workhouses in 19th-century England that Charles Dickens critiqued through his novels.
—
Colin Gordon, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
There are still cheerleaders who say H.W. and Clinton’s top-tax-rate increases underlay the 1990s boom and budget surpluses.
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
There was another story that underlay the peace negotiations, and that was the story of the love between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024
The consumer welfare philosophy also underlay U.S. negotiations that resulted in international antitrust cooperation agreements and in competition chapters within bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underlay
Colin Gordon, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
There are still cheerleaders who say H.W. and Clinton’s top-tax-rate increases underlay the 1990s boom and budget surpluses.
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
There was another story that underlay the peace negotiations, and that was the story of the love between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024
The consumer welfare philosophy also underlay U.S. negotiations that resulted in international antitrust cooperation agreements and in competition chapters within bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlay
Verb
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Menin has supported Wilson, Bottcher’s former chief of staff, who had his ex-boss’s blessing in the race.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Other factors, including scars, bruising, ligature marks and signs of malnutrition, supported evidence of long-term abuse, the warrant affidavit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lockridge and Sal Frelick hit consecutive RBI singles and Rengifo came home when Joey Ortiz grounded into a forceout.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
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Next up was Marcelo Mayer, who should have grounded into a routine double play but beat the throw to first after Rafaela and Williamson collided on the tag.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Judges also upheld separate findings that Kim improperly received about 42 million won (about $28,000) in political support tied to vehicle leases and insurance payments during preparations for his election campaign.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
8 May 2026
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In a 2024 case, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the FDA’s rule allowing mifepristone to be prescribed online and shipped nationwide, ruling that the group that sued over the rule, the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, did not have proper standing to file the legal challenge.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The Visitors’ Lions were hastily established by the Biennale after the resignation of the jury, who were, of course, responsible for the assignment of the Golden Lion awards.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
11 May 2026
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Serialized vertical video series with episodes lasting just a few minutes apiece first established itself in Asia but has drawn significant investment Stateside in recent years.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
Verb
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This is a congenital defect, and the treatment differs based on the severity of the condition.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
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Here are three dividend-paying stocks that are highlighted by Wall Street's top pros, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Local authorities formally closed all hiking routes to Mount Dukono in April and reinforced the ban following Friday’s incident.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
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Standards in science and public health are not abstract ideals; they are shaped and reinforced by the conduct of those in leadership.—
Sam Zeveloff,
STAT,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The big bet on AI—the near-trillion dollars that hyperscalers are spending to build out the technology’s infrastructure—is predicated on the belief that productivity will skyrocket.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
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Emery’s eminence in Europe has been predicated on managing two-legged contests, knowing that the pace and rhythm is different.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlay. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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