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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underlay
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
Another key part of the trick involves an appreciation of two psychological systems that underlay our decision making, as described by Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist and Nobel Prize-winner.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for underlay
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
Another key part of the trick involves an appreciation of two psychological systems that underlay our decision making, as described by Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist and Nobel Prize-winner.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for underlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlay
Verb
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The lower level would serve as an assembly and event space for weddings, baptisms, birthdays and cultural events, supported by a full kitchen and bar service during social events.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Post, digital and visual effects are supported by Screen NSW and Screen Queensland.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Structured silhouettes keep the look grounded while still offering the comfort and ease of a looser fit.—
Jennifer Hussein,
InStyle,
13 Jan. 2026
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Crews were already stretched thin battling the Palisades fire when 90-mile-per-hour winds grounded aircraft and caused the blaze to explode.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The decision also upheld a lower-court ruling on TPS protections for Haitians.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
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The ordinance clarifies existing rules and ensures they are upheld by county contractors, grantees and leaseholders.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, established in 1987, lists worldwide suicide bereavement support groups as a public service to loss survivors.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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But the center re-established his dominance against the smaller Warriors on Monday, finishing with 15 points and 17 rebounds while serving as a significant deterrent on the defensive interior.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Jan. 2026
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The federal government pays insurers to cover seniors who enroll in their MA plans, with the payment amount varying based on the seniors’ health (as reported by the insurers).—
Marianne Pizzitola,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The experience also reinforced Madsen’s belief in the power of social media.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
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This, in turn, reinforced Webster’s own initial claim about his fight with the MPD cop—that Rathbun had provoked the encounter by striking him in the head, then lied about it to counter Webster’s righteous assertion of self-defense, resulting in his wrongful conviction.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Corona del Mar’s offense is predicated upon rapid movement of the basketball.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
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Depardon’s typically non-interventionist approach is especially sensitive to the nuances and complexities of the patient/doctor relationship (and the fundamental trust upon which it is predicated), which Depardon himself regarded as this indelible documentary’s central subject.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlay. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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