Thesaurus results for UNDERPINNINGS

underpinnings

noun

plural of underpinning

as in foundations

an immaterial thing upon which something else rests the underpinnings of the theory have recently been called into question

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in shores

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

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 underpinnings The conversation and the word itself, which gives the seventh and final episode its title, unlocks the Biblical underpinnings and the complexities governing many of the main characters. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026 The phone, the radio, the television, the fax, the cell, texting, video calls, AI—who among us truly grasps its underpinnings? — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 The occasional hints on non-denim pieces come in the material’s colors for devoré tops, lace underpinnings and jacquard knits, which often reprise Dondup’s tribal logo. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026 Underneath the bodywork are some relatively familiar underpinnings; Bentley shares technology with Porsche as both are part of the greater Volkswagen Group empire. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026 Summary Toyota's new C-HR+ electric SUV signals a serious EV commitment, presenting a larger, sharper-looking model distinct from its hybrid counterpart, built on bZ4X underpinnings. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Otherwise, the underpinnings are perfectly sorted. — Utkarsh Sood june 27, New Atlas, 27 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpinnings

Noun

Doing so would entail repairing cracks that admit water, maintaining the foundations of each section, applying a sealant to slow the weathering process, and keeping the encroachment of vegetation in check.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
That period also provided the foundations for where City currently sits within the top echelons of world soccer – having won the UEFA Champions League back in 2023 and winning four consecutive Premier Leagues from 2021 to 2024.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of foundations

Noun

Movie theaters like ours are the economic and cultural cornerstones of communities across this great nation — in all 50 states, in cities and towns, big and small.

— Paul Gunsky, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026
In the 1950s and 1960s, suburban malls were explicitly designed as community cornerstones, complete with bustling food courts, movie theaters, arcades, and a smorgasbord of shops.

— Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of cornerstones

Noun

Cage solved my next problem by insisting that the way to discover new things is to overcome our dependence on our likes and dislikes, those supposed pillars of criticism.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Today, the offering is broken down into three pillars in men’s as well as a women’s division, Cater explained.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of pillars

Noun

The tall temples feature square bases and conical towers adorned with intricate stone carvings of gods and mythical animals, with the three largest structures dedicated to Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu.

— Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Its armed forces have proved capable of continuing to damage American military bases despite coming under heavy bombardment.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of bases

Noun

In North Carolina, researchers found that food and housing supports lowered Medicaid spending over time.

— Priyanka D McCluskey, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026
The structural system, meanwhile, is based on point supports, which means the building loads are transferred through columns that can be spaced relatively far apart.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of supports

Noun

The costs of health insurance are pushing small businesses — beloved by politicians and the bedrocks of entire communities — to a financial cliff.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 7 July 2026
Hillary Rodham Clinton also reflect on the bedrocks of our democracy, including the Electoral College and the peaceful transfer of power.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 June 2026

Definition of bedrocks

Noun

Avoid leaning against concrete walls or sitting on concrete floors because rebars (the metal reinforcements inside the concrete) can conduct electricity.

— Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 26 Sep. 2026
Leather maintains more traditional materials for the midle two stripes and tongue, but further reinforcements come via ribbed laces that should provide greater lockdown.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of reinforcements

Browse Nearby Words

underpinning

underpinnings

underpins

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Underpinnings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpinnings. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of underpinnings

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tittle

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes