1
2
as in to establish
to form the basis or foundation of (something, such as an idea)
The assumption that underlies their argument is faulty.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underlie
Disney is betting the underlying tension is universal.
—
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
But the Islamic Republic’s underlying problems remain unresolved, experts say.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
But the underlying conflict—between Russia and Ukraine, and increasingly between Russia and Europe—cannot simply be resolved.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Additional details about the underlying allegations were not immediately available.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
But the Islamic Republic’s underlying problems remain unresolved, experts say.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
But the underlying conflict—between Russia and Ukraine, and increasingly between Russia and Europe—cannot simply be resolved.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Additional details about the underlying allegations were not immediately available.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlie
Verb
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Create an inner and outer sanctuary that supports your emotional needs.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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Mangione’s lawyers had faced a deadline Thursday to provide prosecutors with information to support the emotional disturbance claim.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Those would be high benchmarks for Texas Tech to establish, so long as the conference follows its own bylaws.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 June 2026
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State initiatives aimed at supporting fusion research and commercialization have encouraged investment and collaboration, helping establish an ecosystem designed to accelerate technological breakthroughs.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Indonesia’s foreign-exchange reserves fell for a fifth straight month in May, underscoring the cost of policymakers’ efforts to steady the rupiah after its slide to a record low.—
Grace Sihombing,
Bloomberg,
8 June 2026
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Share your summary, and steady the team’s pace.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Verb
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The shade is ideal for bold yet grounded spaces, working well as an accent or statement color in kitchens, bedrooms, and rustic or botanical designs.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2026
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If a relative resists a change, stay grounded by explaining the why in plain words and by offering to handle the heavier task.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The Haitian Bridge Alliance, a rights group that advocates for Haitians immigrants, urged the Supreme Court to reject the government’s ask to end TPS and affirm lower court’s rulings upholding the protections.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
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An appeals court upheld the dismissal.—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The project also reinforces San Diego’s growing status as a center for fusion research and development.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
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Activating them during exposure work may reinforce the therapeutic learning happening in the room, helping patients form new emotional associations with traumatic memories rather than experiencing them as immediate threats.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2026
Verb
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The pressure is already building, not because anyone is choosing to merge the systems but because people are starting to carry insights from one AI into the other.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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The diamonds finally arrived in April 2026, carrying a significance that went far beyond the finished stones themselves.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Co-stars include Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard in the story of two fraudulent paranormal investigators who are forced to face real ghosts and the lies underpinning their business.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
19 June 2026
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The film showed audiences around the world that computer animation could be just as emotionally impactful as traditional animation, the very ethos underpinning Pixar’s existence.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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