as in sustained
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology
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Recent Examples of undergirded
The frontier myth undergirded their policies.
—
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
In the summer of 2020, massive riots erupted over the murder of George Floyd, undergirded by a powerful social justice movement.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2026
Hungarian Conceptual artist Dóra Maurer, whose fascination with movement and change undergirded a diverse practice marked by bright hues, simple shapes, and uninhibited experimentation, died on February 14.
—News Desk, Artforum, 22 Feb. 2026
Her wacky asides, undergirded by a subtle poignancy, both gave Guffman a zany edge and helped transform the mockumentary genre itself.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Yet his empire of quiet is undergirded by unease.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
This includes the inherently exploitative nature of apparel production that is undergirded by unequal power dynamics between the global North and the global South.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
Mamdani sailed to victory in the New York City mayor’s race, first in the primary, then in the general election, on a platform of affordability undergirded by good old-fashioned class warfare.
—Abby Phillip, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Some might say the new Aurora Regional Navigation Campus that opened recently in a former 255-room hotel is undergirded by one of humanity’s seven deadly sins — envy.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 28 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
In the summer of 2020, massive riots erupted over the murder of George Floyd, undergirded by a powerful social justice movement.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2026
Hungarian Conceptual artist Dóra Maurer, whose fascination with movement and change undergirded a diverse practice marked by bright hues, simple shapes, and uninhibited experimentation, died on February 14.
—News Desk, Artforum, 22 Feb. 2026
Her wacky asides, undergirded by a subtle poignancy, both gave Guffman a zany edge and helped transform the mockumentary genre itself.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Yet his empire of quiet is undergirded by unease.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
This includes the inherently exploitative nature of apparel production that is undergirded by unequal power dynamics between the global North and the global South.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 15 Dec. 2025
Mamdani sailed to victory in the New York City mayor’s race, first in the primary, then in the general election, on a platform of affordability undergirded by good old-fashioned class warfare.
—Abby Phillip, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Some might say the new Aurora Regional Navigation Campus that opened recently in a former 255-room hotel is undergirded by one of humanity’s seven deadly sins — envy.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 28 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirded
Verb
-
The three unidentified individuals sustained minor stab wounds and were taken to a local hospital for treatment, Narragansett Police said.—
Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
-
Officers arrived and began rendering aid to the driver of a black Toyota Corolla, which sustained significant damage in the crash, according to police.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Weinstein’s attorneys have denied that encounter ever took place, and have argued that the trial judge improperly withheld evidence that would have bolstered his alibi.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an effort by Democratic lawmakers in Virginia to revive redrawn congressional maps that could have bolstered their party.—
Justin Jouvenal,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Wearing a tasteful, monk-like robe in muted camel, Grogu was ceremoniously carried to a waiting bank of red carpet photographers.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
Goldman Sachs analysts reported in late 2025 that companies announcing layoffs carried higher debt, higher capital expenditure, and lower profit growth than peers, suggesting the cuts were responses to financial distress rather than AI efficiency gains.—
Julie Averill,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Councilmember George Fuller said information about data centers remains unclear and supported city officials seeking to develop standards for such uses.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
-
Richard is implied to be Hutu, though his family are never suggested to have participated in or supported the massacres.—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Shirilla’s legal camp filed an appeal in September 2023, but the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals upheld her conviction.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
Sharon Fermyn, who has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 20 years, now lives along the dividing line between congressional districts that cuts through Columbus Park after the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the new congressional maps Tuesday.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undergirded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirded. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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