underlies

verb

present tense third-person singular of underlie
1
as in supports
to lie underneath A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.

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2
as in grounds
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 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 underlies Permafrost, a layer of ground made up of soil, rock and sediment, underlies nearly 15% of the land surface in the Northern Hemisphere. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 The same principle underlies brainwriting, a technique that reliably outperforms conventional brainstorming. — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 The same philosophy underlies a series of larger reforms already underway. — Bethany Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026 This approach underlies the security of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum and, with RSA, helps secure modern internet traffic. — IEEE Spectrum, 7 July 2026 And that’s the question that underlies much of what’s onscreen in this perplexing, entertaining, frustrating picture. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 July 2026 But in making their arguments, the authors went further, addressing fundamental questions of politics by laying out the political theory that underlies that Constitution. — Jordan Cash, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 Training, both stressed, underlies all of it. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlies
  1. supports
  2. grounds
  3. establishes
  4. reinforces
  5. rests
  6. bases
Verb
  • The fact that hunting is a season — and not a year-round activity — supports this.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Though the pipeline hasn’t transported gas to Germany since 2022, the country’s far-right AfD supports resuming flows, which could allow US investors to profit.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of supports
Verb
  • Tart Deco mixes black cherry, rose, and mimosa, then grounds them with birchwood, vetiver, and vanilla.
    — Ethan Stone October 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Stepping away for a walk, exercising or doing something hands-on reconnects you with your senses and grounds you in the present.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of grounds
Verb
  • The Supreme Court's ruling establishes that it is entitled to review the president's determination of cause.
    — Matt Peterson,Luke Fountain, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Anchored by a 17th-century Swiss stone fountain, the courtyard establishes a sense of unity.
    — Michael James Gardner, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of establishes
Verb
  • The experience unfolds almost like a graphic novel, with each layer revealing polar bear artwork that reinforces the company's message of dependable, environmentally conscious power.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
  • While the report largely reinforces the National Transportation Safety Board’s conclusions, the civilian investigation was broader and the NTSB focused on years of warning signs missed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
    — Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of reinforces
Verb
  • As Berg explained, the key to the players’ theory rests on signing away their rights to the NCAA.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Dyson’s reputation rests on reengineering mundane household products (vacuums, hair dryers and fans) around proprietary tech and premium pricing.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of rests
Verb
  • This makes Kansas one of the few states that bases the requirement on payroll dollars rather than employee count.
    — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Currently, the Social Security Administration bases its COLA each year on average annual increases in the CPI-W, or the index for urban wage earners, from July through September.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of bases

Browse Nearby Words

underlie
underlies
underline
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Cite this Entry

“Underlies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlies. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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