underpinnings

noun

plural of underpinning
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

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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 Insiders know that the technical underpinnings of watermarking are a gambit of trade-offs, and soon, the rest of society is going to witness this with their own eyes and ears. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026 However, the political underpinnings of that panic are rarely identified and challenged. — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026 Otherwise, the underpinnings are perfectly sorted. — Utkarsh Sood june 27, New Atlas, 27 June 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpinnings
  1. foundations
  2. shores
  3. cornerstones
  4. pillars
  5. bases
  6. supports
  7. bedrocks
  8. reinforcements
Noun
  • The exhibit and documentary were funded with about $110,000 in donations from community members, businesses and organizations and grants, including money from the Seigle and Palmer foundations, musuem Director Rebecca Miller said.
    — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • For leaders looking to strengthen these foundations, Patrick Lencioni's The Five Dysfunctions of a Team remains one of the most practical books on building trust and creating high-performing teams.
    — Don Weber, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of foundations
Noun
  • Moore Russell celebrated with supporters Tuesday evening on the shores of Lake Orlando, declaring that the result showed people at the ballot box can overcome money.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Prince Harry and his family will leave the sunny shores of Southern California and return to the United Kingdom, a source familiar with the couple’s plans said.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of shores
Noun
  • Both candidates see modernizing the office’s systems and expanding access to the public as cornerstones of their campaigns.
    — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
  • While wine dinners and traditional tasting events remain cornerstones of NYCWFF, today's audiences are just as excited by specialty coffee, food creators, and experiences built around specific cuisines and communities.
    — Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of cornerstones
Noun
  • Webb later revisited the region in infrared, seeing through more of the dust and revealing stars hidden inside and behind the pillars.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a symmetry despite all four stands having a different design, ranging from the concrete pillars of the Bramall Lane end to the much smoother lines seen along the John Street Stand.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of pillars
Noun
  • Athletics The Athletics are led by DH Brent Rooker, who hit 39 homers and stole 11 bases last year, and right fielder Lawrence Butler, an emerging star who added 22 homers and 18 steals.
    — Jim Bowden, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Washington Nationals The Nationals should take the next step forward as their young nucleus, led by shortstop CJ Abrams, who hit 20 homers and stole 31 bases last year, continues to develop and improve.
    — Jim Bowden, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of bases
Noun
  • Reaching for chatbot interactions rather than human supports in moments of emotional distress or crisis.
    — Megan Kelly, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
  • These are upstream levers—exactly the kind of environmental and social supports that reduce the chronic disease load over time.
    — Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 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
  • As the Red Sox continue to push through the dog days of the season, reinforcements are on the horizon.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Fortunately for the Yanks, some reinforcements are expected back before Judge’s unspecified return.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of reinforcements

Browse Nearby Words

underpinning
underpinnings
underpins
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Cite this Entry

“Underpinnings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpinnings. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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