as in underground
being, situated, or operating beneath the surface of the earth
a subterranean bunker that supposedly could withstand even an atomic blast
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Recent Examples of subterranean
After reviewing over 30 years of monitoring data, entomologists at the University of Florida (UF) now say both the Formosan and Asian subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus and Coptotermes gestroi) are expanding their range of destruction.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Fortunately, Formosan termites are no more difficult to get rid of than native subterranean termites.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
The subterranean lounge is built on the garden level of a brick townhouse perched atop the hills of Mount Adams, Cincinnati's most beautiful neighborhood.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2026
Sinclair is probably the most adept living navigator of London’s subterranean currents.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Fortunately, Formosan termites are no more difficult to get rid of than native subterranean termites.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
The subterranean lounge is built on the garden level of a brick townhouse perched atop the hills of Mount Adams, Cincinnati's most beautiful neighborhood.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2026
Sinclair is probably the most adept living navigator of London’s subterranean currents.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subterranean
underground
Adjective
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These caverns under sidewalks could be used for storage, and circular pieces of thick glass in the sidewalk added natural light to these eerie underground chambers.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
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The latter houses the cryogenically frozen employees of Vault-Tec, a corporation that made a lot of money out of underground bunkers before the Great War.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subterranean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subterranean. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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