as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
the underlying differences between democracy and dictatorship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in supporting
to lie underneath
A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.
Related Words
2
as in grounding
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
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Recent Examples of underlying
Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Covid was the underlying cause of death for more than 940,000 people in the U.S. from Aug. 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022, according to a 2023 report in JAMA Network, an open-access journal on biomedical sciences published by the American Medical Association.
—Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Mill Etienne, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Treatment for a burning sensation in your feet varies based on the underlying cause, but medications and lifestyle changes may help.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underlying
Adjective
Elderly people, newborns and individuals with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of medical intervention.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Covid was the underlying cause of death for more than 940,000 people in the U.S. from Aug. 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022, according to a 2023 report in JAMA Network, an open-access journal on biomedical sciences published by the American Medical Association.
—Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Unfortunately, many people miss out on this valuable option and instead turn to sleep medications, which often fail to address the underlying issues.
—Mill Etienne, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Treatment for a burning sensation in your feet varies based on the underlying cause, but medications and lifestyle changes may help.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underlying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlying
Adjective
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But unlike the basic Shahed which relies entirely on satellite navigation, the MS001 can identify objects on the ground using its thermal imager and AI and attack them.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The state's health insurance plans offer premium, classic and basic Health Advantage plans to state and public school employees and non-Medicare eligible retirees.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The design is intended to spur students to leave their rooms and connect with their fellow students, supporting physical and mental health.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
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Carter asked Davis to come out of retirement—again—to help lead the process of enacting the speed limit into law and supporting its nationwide promotion.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Taurus Season begins on April 19th, bringing a soft, grounding energy to your communication sector.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
13 Apr. 2025
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Collectively, the trio brings depth and heart to G20, grounding its explosive stakes in something universally human—family.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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It is conducted by individuals or small groups using basic tools and rudimentary machinery.—
Marian Selorm Sapah,
Space.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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As his 306-page report concludes, the Clinton campaign was principally responsible for fabricating the story, and the FBI was recklessly irresponsible in opening a full investigation and using the dossier in court without rudimentary verification steps.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 July 2025
Verb
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To achieve military domination, you'll be tasked with forcefully establishing your Ideology and your empire around the globe.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
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To increase your chances of getting into REM on time, experts recommended establishing a healthy overall sleep routine.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Health,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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One of the fastest-growing districts in the state, Leander ISD operates dozens of elementary, middle and high schools.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
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There are indications that students who had to attend school at the elementary and high school level were noticeably behind where other students would have been at that same point in their education.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Labor market stamina, marked by low layoffs and strong wage growth are underpinning consumer spending.—
Lucia Mutikani,
USA TODAY,
21 Dec. 2024
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The maker of graphics processing units underpinning large language models has benefited, as data center demand has swollen since ChatGPT’s late-2022 launch.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Finer details on the type of robots being used or their functions have not yet been revealed, but clearly the production of rebar (the reinforcing rods used in concrete construction) will be a major focus, which makes sense since Neom is currently using around 20% of the world's steel supply.—
Adam Williams,
New Atlas,
22 Dec. 2024
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Share how feedback has shaped your leadership journey, reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes,
22 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Underlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlying. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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