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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency repealed its endangerment finding, which provides the legal underpinning for greenhouse gas regulations in the country.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.
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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Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency repealed its endangerment finding, which provides the legal underpinning for greenhouse gas regulations in the country.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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Dominic Canzone and Randy Arozarena walked to load the bases with one out before Josh Naylor struck out swinging.
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The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) evaluates transgender student participation on a case-by-case basis, generally supporting inclusion while lacking a statewide legislative ban.
Noun
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Corlys, one of few characters on the show who has survived long enough to ask for a favor in return for his service, shares his plan with Rhaenyra, asking her earnestly for public support from the crown.
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Ukraine is expected to be central in Ankara, with debate focused on long-term military support, Kyiv’s own defense industry and what NATO can learn from the country after more than four years of full-scale war.
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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Atlas performed a series of soccer moves developed using a combination of motion retargeting, reinforcement learning and whole-body control.
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Hundreds of firefighters battled blazes in Portugal, Greece and Spain on Sunday, with Spain and Italy sending reinforcements to Portugal to help with a massive blaze burning for more than three days.
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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America’s 13 original colonies were teeming with adventurous foreigners who formed the bedrock of our dynamic economy and democracy.
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Goodness knows when younger people will be able to buy a home, once considered the bedrock of achieving the American dream.
Noun
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The only way to preserve our republic is to strengthen the pillars of our present with the mortar of our past.
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These clips, showing first-person views from drones striking military and logistical sites, have become a pillar of Ukraine’s wartime propaganda efforts to illustrate battlefield successes against Russia.
Cite this Entry
“Underpinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpinning. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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