UNDERLAY Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

underlay

verb

Definition of underlay

past tense of underlie

as in supported

to lie underneath A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.

Related Words

Relevance

as in grounded

to form the basis or foundation of (something, such as an idea) The assumption that underlies their argument is faulty.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 underlay Judge Ruiz ruled Thursday that the second vote cured the problems that underlay her initial block on the deed transfer. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025 Once the human in the loop selects the option the team prefers, the systems can assign tasks to agents that underlay SAP’s assistant. — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2025 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 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 See All Example Sentences for underlay

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlay

Verb

Council member Nancy Merrill, who supported the project as a private citizen before joining the council and voted in favor of the plan Tuesday, questioned why the proposal was rejected again.

— Noah Daly August 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Aug. 2026
Under that effort, laboratory teams supported fuel design, probabilistic risk assessment, and regulatory engagement with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of supported

Verb

Adding something fun to your at-home altar like an incense holder, a statue of Venus/Aphrodite, or evil eye decor to stay grounded within yourself and embrace your spiritual side this month.

— Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
In the third inning, the Rockies erased Salvador Perez’s leadoff single as Massey grounded into a double play.

— Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of grounded

Verb

Attorneys for the Legislature and state agencies countered that the exemptions are legal, have already been upheld by other courts, and that the case should be dismissed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
The colleague who used force in this incident was fired, according to the lawsuit, and the personnel board upheld that termination.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of upheld

Verb

Tony's Pizza Napoletana has quickly established itself as one of San Francisco's most beloved pizza joints.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
Azzuro said about 1,000 invasive species have been identified in the Mediterranean, with 800 of them firmly established.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of established

Verb

The government program can still award broadband grants based on factors such as income, age, and disability.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026
Indeed, in retrospect, the ruling at The Hague a decade ago was the harbinger of a new global order — one based not on rules, norms, and conventions but, increasingly, raw power wielded by the strong against the weak.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of based

Verb

The experience reinforced her belief that the profession itself was never the problem.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Living and working across Southeast Asia reinforced early on in his career that there is no universal definition of exclusivity in luxury and what creates meaning for one guest may be entirely different for another.

— Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of reinforced

Verb

So our business is not predicated on moving console players immediately over to cloud or getting people to get rid of their gaming PCs.

— Jennifer Maas, Variety, 23 July 2026
But Kane’s game was never predicated on speed, but rather his hockey IQ, his anticipation and his singular creativity that made him seemingly every great player’s favorite player growing up.

— Scott Powers, New York Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of predicated

Browse Nearby Words

underlain

underlay

underlie

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Style

“Underlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlay. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of underlay

verb

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