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
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Recent Examples of underpinnings
Given all the other economic and geopolitical uncertainty in the world, this is perhaps not the best time to assume rapid and significant change in the underpinnings of how the central bank has worked has no risk.
—
Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
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
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
Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
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
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
-
Are the foundations laid in 1776 and 1789 still strong enough and sound enough to resist the tremors of our times?—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
-
But there are many plants that are fast-growing yet sized right for foundations.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Usually, prevailing winds push warmer surface water away from the Americas toward Asia and Oceania, but El Niño disrupts this process, leaving warm water close to North and South America’s shores.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
-
The sandy shores are combed for seaweed and trash nightly, which earned the town a Blue Wave certification.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Public safety has emerged as one of the cornerstones of Pratt's platform.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 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
-
Brick pillars are embedded with bronze plaques listing the players and manager from each of the franchise’s three World Series championship teams.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
-
Personalized treatments are built around three pillars—energetic renewal, conscious longevity, and stress management—and integrated with the landscape and architecture of the property and the regional cuisine.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
21 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
-
On the other were calls to shift resources away from policing and toward social supports and services.—
Diane Goldstein,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
-
Build office- and home-based supports that make systems flexible enough to let their strengths show.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
That’s likely to change in Season 3, now that both factions have added key reinforcements.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
The starting pitcher injuries are getting to a point where the Cubs might be white-knuckling survival until the trade deadline at the beginning of August to acquire external reinforcements.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
17 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 24 Jun. 2026.
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