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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underbelly
Last fall, Boom applied patches of the material during testing of its experimental XB-1 to its underbelly.
—
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 May 2025
The underbellies of Android 15 and One UI 7 have a completely new framework, which allows Samsung to incorporate a lot of efficiencies systemwide.
—PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025
Stories that explore the underbelly of this incredibly complex city.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 19 May 2025
The material is applied in small sections across the underbelly, and each section can be removed for maintenance and repairs.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 May 2025
The underbellies of Android 15 and One UI 7 have a completely new framework, which allows Samsung to incorporate a lot of efficiencies systemwide.
—PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025
Stories that explore the underbelly of this incredibly complex city.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 19 May 2025
The material is applied in small sections across the underbelly, and each section can be removed for maintenance and repairs.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
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Critics, among them Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, have claimed Maxwell’s father held ties to the Mossad, arguing that Epstein was involved in a shadowy underworld connected to an intelligence apparatus.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
22 July 2025
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Pulp Fiction, about two hitmen — portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta — and how their exploits intersect with the lives of a cast of characters existing in the criminal underworld of Los Angeles, also stars Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Christopher Walken and Harvey Keitel.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
The underside of the stones is bonded to the sticky asphalt cement.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Cabbage loopers feed on leaf undersides, creating windowpane patterns, while later larval stages chew holes or bore into cabbage heads, causing stunted growth or failure to form a head.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
31 July 2025
Noun
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At this point, the defensive back remains a free agent and seems motivated by his former team to get back out on the field and make an impact.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
-
From there, Glenn climbed the ladder, progressing from assistant defensive backs coach for the Browns to defensive backs coach for the Saints, to Lions’ defensive coordinator in 2021.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
The kit features the new green-on-green stripes, a first for the club, and a heart on the jock tag at the bottom of the shirt.—
Beck Andrew Salgado,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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The new bombshell is a blonde named Beth (Pamela Anderson, paying delightful homage to Priscilla Presley), and her brother has just been found dead in his don’t call it a Tesla at the bottom of a lake.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Indeed, there is a chance the feline has a soft spot for the woman's roomie.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
-
Her husband had always had a soft spot for yams and was glad for the sudden bounty.—
Zadie Smith,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Zachary Naegele, 24, was competing at the Conley Invitational in Palmetto, Florida, last week when the bull’s horn punctured his jugular, causing blood to stream out in a heart-pounding, caught-on-camera moment.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
15 Feb. 2025
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Gone are the days of Ami Cusack cutting down men without hesitation or Natalie Bolton flossing her teeth with Jason Siska’s jugular.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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