as in abyss
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream
a magazine article taking an insightful look at the underworld inhabited by street people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 underworld
Most prior visits had morphed into extended trips into a terrifying medical underworld — to a purgatory known as emergency department boarding.
—
Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Major gallerists and curators eventually became curious about this irrepressibly cool little underworld.
—Paula Aceves, Curbed, 20 Apr. 2026
Right around that time, the Venice Film Festival saw Mamoru Hosoda’s anime epic Scarlet, in which the Danish prince became an ass-kicking Danish princess consigned to a hellish and phantasmagoric underworld.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
The groundbreaking series followed Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Rico Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas), two undercover cops navigating Miami’s drug- and violence-fueled underworld.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underworld
Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Major gallerists and curators eventually became curious about this irrepressibly cool little underworld.
—Paula Aceves, Curbed, 20 Apr. 2026
Right around that time, the Venice Film Festival saw Mamoru Hosoda’s anime epic Scarlet, in which the Danish prince became an ass-kicking Danish princess consigned to a hellish and phantasmagoric underworld.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
The groundbreaking series followed Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Rico Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas), two undercover cops navigating Miami’s drug- and violence-fueled underworld.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underworld
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underworld
Noun
-
According to sources, the contest in fact nearly tipped into the abyss with an additional half-dozen countries poised to pull out over the Israel inclusion.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
This whole Western Conference semifinal series against these defending champions has been a lose-lose proposition for the Lakers, who are now down 3-0 and staring into the elimination abyss in Game 4 on Monday.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The rules of this netherworld announce themselves, early on, via a nondescript wall sign.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Now, in an age of instant communications, their Cold War counterparts could nonetheless disappear into a covert netherworld, loosening Washington’s controls and freeing them to plot coups, mobilize armies, and install governments.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The biggest and best development to come from that 2022 deadline purge was Verbeek’s willingess to plunge them into the depths of the NHL standings for the chance at huge future rewards.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The boost in confidence is due to the vast pool of warm water that’s built up in the depths of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific in recent weeks.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
This debacle plunges the Marvins into Sydney’s criminal demimonde, where Susi is part of an organization headquartered in an amusement park and led by another brother-sister duo, this one terrifyingly unhinged.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Often considered the most scathing film ever made about the movie industry, The Day of the Locust is an adaptation of Nathanael West’s celebrated novel about a down-and-out artist turned set painter and the Los Angeles demimonde during the Great Depression.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underworld.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underworld. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
