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
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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
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
The underlying case against Comey has faced headwinds from the start.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
While lawmakers came closer to ending this partial government shutdown on Friday, a resolution to the underlying issues remains elusive.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlying
Adjective
Adaptive muscle systems The findings indicate that muscle-like coordination may emerge not only from complex biochemical processes but also from the underlying physical architecture of a system.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
The underlying case against Comey has faced headwinds from the start.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
The criminal cases at the center of the judge’s order to bar disclosure are against two men, Adrian Rucker and Jaylin Arnold, facing charges of armed violence and other felonies in connection with the underlying events around Rivera’s shooting.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
While lawmakers came closer to ending this partial government shutdown on Friday, a resolution to the underlying issues remains elusive.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlying
Adjective
-
Island-wide blackouts have roiled Cubans already grappling with years of crisis, and lack of gasoline and basic resources has crippled hospitals and slashed public transport.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Island-wide blackouts have roiled Cubans already grappling with years of crisis, and lack of gasoline and basic resources has crippled hospital and slashed public transport.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His wife spent 10 years as a paraprofessional at Liggett Trail Early Childhood Center, supporting children with developmental disabilities.—
Joseph Hernandez
March 29,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The goggles, the GPS address and the laptop — all of it was strong evidence supporting the bizarre story Denise and Aaron had been telling all along.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The scent—redolent of cedarwood, sandalwood, pomegranate, and frankincense—sets a calm, grounding tone for any visit.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Palmer, in particular, looks poised to carry the film’s heart amid the madness, grounding a story that frequently threatens to spin out of control.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
By the late 1950s, Houdry had invented a rudimentary catalytic converter.—
Ann E. Carlson,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The crash occurred at Tempe in northern Greece after a passenger train was placed on the wrong track, into the path of an oncoming freight train — an astonishing lapse on a rudimentary rail network.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once soil health improves, many gardeners find that digging individual planting holes is sufficient for establishing crops.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, Angine de Poitrine are more like Meshuggah or Dawn of Midi, establishing a meter and then creating rhythmic illusions using creative bursts of syncopation.—
Christopher R. Weingarten,
Pitchfork,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bakri is responsible for many soul-shattering moments in Cherien Dabis’s exemplary multigenerational epic All That’s Left of You (now on digital), and the first takes place after an elementary-school lesson.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Students in elementary grades would be taught not to touch a found firearm, to leave the area and to tell an adult.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Farizon Super Van (SV) underpinning this camper does not, making for a particularly large, breezy entry from the side.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
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The engine underpinning Botto’s work uses an algorithm to produce text prompts, which are then turned into art using AI image-generation models including Stable Diffusion and Kandinsky AI.—
Stephy Chung,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Larkin found that Muslim viewers in Kano reinterpreted Bollywood films through an Islamic moral lens, reading their narratives as reinforcing local values of propriety and ethical conduct.—
Gareth Barkin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The video includes scenes from across the actress’s career as well as glimpses of her personal life, reinforcing her status as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures.—
Claire Dodds,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlying. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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