1
as in basis
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests
the underpinnings of the theory have recently been called into question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in support
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else
the underpinnings of the bridge were seriously damaged in the collision
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
the central beliefs that underpin a free society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underpinning
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2026
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency repealed its endangerment finding, which provides the legal underpinning for greenhouse gas regulations in the country.
—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
Barry Levitt,
Time,
19 June 2026
That sentiment runs deeper than the film‘s title, underpinning much of McKendrick’s work.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for underpinning
Noun
The bishop, speaking with the Washington Examiner ahead of the address, called belief in the Christian God a fundamental underpinning of American civil society that guarantees minority faiths’ freedoms.
—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
17 May 2026
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency repealed its endangerment finding, which provides the legal underpinning for greenhouse gas regulations in the country.
—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
That sentiment runs deeper than the film‘s title, underpinning much of McKendrick’s work.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for underpinning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpinning
Noun
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The 747-800 was selected as the basis of the VC-25B, the new primary plane to serve as Air Force One in 2015, during the Barack Obama administration, as the old planes were expected to exceed their service lifetime in 2017.
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The Guardians loaded the bases with two outs in the inning but Burke induced Brayan Rocchio to pop out.
Noun
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Overall, half of Americans (50%) support displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms, including 83% of White evangelicals and 72% of Republicans.
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Trailing 3-1 in the third, Ohtani provided his own run support, singling to center to score Alex Freeland from second after the Dodgers infielder had led off with a double.
Verb
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Gifford had to have a follow-up hip surgery after sustaining a fracture from being too physically active in her condition, People noted.
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The training package included in the contract is expected to prepare Polish crews and technical personnel for operating and sustaining the new fleet over its service life.
Noun
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Caracas, Venezuela — Venezuela was broken long before two back-to-back earthquakes ripped the country from its foundations last Wednesday.
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The foundation recommended ballot curing programs that speed up the process by utilizing a secure text platform when double checking whether a ballot is legitimate when a voter’s signature doesn’t match state records.
Noun
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The left-hander had originally been viewed as a potential midseason reinforcement for a team with postseason aspirations.
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That’s likely to change in Season 3, now that both factions have added key reinforcements.
Verb
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In a recent interview on PEOPLE in 10, Chloe opened up about supporting Halle at a screening for her You, Me & Tuscany rom-com in April.
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Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie will be honored during ESPYS week in July with the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award for his work supporting the global autism community.
Noun
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When reunited in New York, that existing chemistry became the cultural bedrock of the entire locker room.
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Customer trust is the bedrock of any successful business, preventing churn and ensuring longevity.
Noun
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One of the site’s 36 pillars — the tallest one in the middle — could be a perch for a big, pink, screeching bird.
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Its success or failure could help determine whether battery repurposing becomes a niche practice or a major pillar of the future energy-storage industry.
Cite this Entry
“Underpinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpinning. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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