1
as in underworld
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream
unable to get work in mainstream films, the actor ended up in Hollywood's underbelly—the porn industry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in underside
the side or part facing downward from something
the underbelly of the old submarine is in bad shape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in back
a vulnerable point
the vast, thinly guarded southern border was obviously the underbelly of the nation's line of defense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underbelly
It’s been restored from the original camera negative, making the story of Travis Bickle’s journey through the underbelly of New York City grittier and more tactile than ever before.
—
Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
Ugarte’s love of defending and pure athleticism should help bolster a United side that has had a soft underbelly in recent years.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
Also neat is that half of the underbelly is ridged, for some added texture.
—Kristin Canning, SELF, 9 Jan. 2025
The result is a sordid yet realistic portrait of the underbelly of Seoul’s glamorous Gangnam district.
—Regina Kim, Forbes, 19 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
Ugarte’s love of defending and pure athleticism should help bolster a United side that has had a soft underbelly in recent years.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
Also neat is that half of the underbelly is ridged, for some added texture.
—Kristin Canning, SELF, 9 Jan. 2025
The result is a sordid yet realistic portrait of the underbelly of Seoul’s glamorous Gangnam district.
—Regina Kim, Forbes, 19 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
-
Inch-high avatars stand to scale in lush 3D sets of magical forests, hellish underworlds, even high schools.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Then some of his young students are kidnapped by child traffickers and Alex descends into the criminal underworld; nothing can prepare you for the bananas final 45 minutes as Foster lays waste to the siege of villains in his dojo.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
They can be pushed out of the Loki-Nav simply by inserting a toothpick through a hole in the underside of the tool's compass housing.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Seen from below, the frogs’ undersides are creamy yellow with orange-tinged limbs.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
His stepdaughter, Leah Hennessy, revealed Feb. 10 that Johansen had been battling Stage 4 cancer for a decade, had a brain tumor and had broken his back in a fall just after Thanksgiving.—
Mike Barnes,
The Hollywood Reporter,
1 Mar. 2025
-
With a towing capacity of 13,200, throw your camper or work trailer on the back and go.—
Marc D Grasso,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The travel pants combine a trouser construction with soft yoga pants material to create a stretchy and wrinkle-resistant pair of bottoms.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2025
-
One example — discovered in 2015 and making the rounds again in recent weeks — is that Converse All Star sneakers have a layer of fuzzy felt on the bottom, allowing the shoe to be classified as a slipper.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
He's always had a little bit of a soft spot for Johnny in his mind, even if he's done some rough things over the years.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Hertl found a soft spot in the bumper between the four penalty killers.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Almost straight from the restart, France pressured Argentina into a hurried clearance, and from there France went straight for the jugular.—
Jonathan Clegg,
WSJ,
18 Dec. 2022
-
Monica goes for the jugular, among other vulnerable body parts.—
Charles McNultyTheater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Dec. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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