1
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
2
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
Moving on to the underpinnings.
—
New Atlas, 27 May 2026
Li is magnificently photographed throughout and is as alluring as the part demands, but Cat has no evident personality — nor does Flint, leaving Huston playing emotionally tortured but with no meaningful underpinnings.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
What has been missing in systems thinking is the character underpinnings that enable or undermine it.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
In a post on X, Reeves underscored the ideological underpinnings to the ruling’s potential implications.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The two share mechanical underpinnings, including their powertrains and most fundamental off-road hardware.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Trump has alluded to the political underpinnings of the influx.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
And yet, while the NCAA Tournament retains its traditional trappings and brackets and upsets keep the country entranced, the underpinnings of college basketball are totally different.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
The movie does attempt to gesture at class and race as thematic underpinnings (the maids trapped in The Virgil are mostly non-white, while the villains are rich Caucasians), but like the story and action at large, these go pretty much nowhere, and feel like obligatory symbols.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
New Atlas, 27 May 2026
Li is magnificently photographed throughout and is as alluring as the part demands, but Cat has no evident personality — nor does Flint, leaving Huston playing emotionally tortured but with no meaningful underpinnings.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
What has been missing in systems thinking is the character underpinnings that enable or undermine it.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
In a post on X, Reeves underscored the ideological underpinnings to the ruling’s potential implications.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The two share mechanical underpinnings, including their powertrains and most fundamental off-road hardware.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Trump has alluded to the political underpinnings of the influx.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr. The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 25 Mar. 2026
And yet, while the NCAA Tournament retains its traditional trappings and brackets and upsets keep the country entranced, the underpinnings of college basketball are totally different.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
The movie does attempt to gesture at class and race as thematic underpinnings (the maids trapped in The Virgil are mostly non-white, while the villains are rich Caucasians), but like the story and action at large, these go pretty much nowhere, and feel like obligatory symbols.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpinnings
Noun
-
The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
-
For example, today’s homes often have open floor plans and concrete slab foundations, while older properties typically had smaller rooms and crawlspaces.—
Kat Tretina,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Set on the shores of Oʻahu in Honolulu, the memorial invites visitors to reflect on the sacrifice of the lost service members.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Final details have yet to be released, but the Q7 and SQ7 are expected to arrive on our shores before the end of the year.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Both players are being relied upon to be cornerstones of the franchise, and both showed promise in their rookie seasons.—
Ryan Canfield OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
-
Considering the potential for a new manager and the departures of long-serving Guardiola cornerstones like Stones and Silva, this is shaping up to be a big summer of change at City.—
Jessica Hopkins,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Elsewhere, three pillars of the theatre community — André Bishop, Jules Fisher, and James Lapine — each received the 2026 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
-
Lectra’s solutions support each of these pillars individually while connecting all stages of the garment lifecycle through centralized data and integrated workflows.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Nola and Realmuto, long bedrocks for the organization, are facing turmoil.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
One of the bedrocks of Bednar’s coaching philosophy is breaking the season into 10-game segments.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Also, concerns of declining mental health of children are real, and challenges of supporting children with special needs are being amplified with removal of social safety net supports.—
Nina Bandelj,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
-
Install stakes, cages, wire grids, or other supports before the blooms open.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
At this point any contribution this season would be welcomed, though reinforcements may be needed.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2026
-
American forces held out until reinforcements drove the Germans back in late January 1945, helping clear a path to Berlin.—
Kevin Maurer,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
The discrepancy stems from Medicare not paying all of his bills for thousands of orthotic braces.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
Mazumder worked in internal medicine, and as an independent contractor signed more than 3,000 orders for unnecessary medical equipment like orthopedic braces for people insured by Medicare and TRICARE, a medical program for active and retired military personnel and their families.—
Julia Coin
June 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underpinnings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpinnings. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
