undergirding

Definition of undergirdingnext
present participle of undergird
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 undergirding But there are key threads undergirding it. Megan Feringa, New York Times, 17 May 2026 OpenAI is at the heart of a web of deals undergirding the artificial intelligence boom that has helped power the entire stock market higher. Rob Wile, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026 In the early 2000s it was shown that there are at least 10500 different configurations of the six compact dimensions, each theoretically undergirding a universe with different properties. Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026 That fear, undergirding all of our hard work. Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026 Instruments drift in and out, sometimes accreting into subtle polyrhythms or harmonies, and other times lightly undergirding Ederra’s gorgeous runs. Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026 While profits boomed in the US, the rest of the world wasn’t shabby either, undergirding calls to diversify away from American stocks into megacaps in Asia and Europe. Michael Msika, Bloomberg, 1 Mar. 2026 Capital expenditures—capex, meaning the big-ticket purchases that fund the data centers, servers, and power infrastructure undergirding the AI race—is fueling record-high, multi-trillion dollar tech valuations when investors think the spending is warranted. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026 Every social theory undergirding Trumpism has been broken on the steel of Minnesotan resolve. Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirding
Verb
  • The book explores codependency, mental health and the realities of sustaining love under pressure.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2026
  • The court was told that Paul and her 10-month-old son were in one of the seven cars involved in the collision, resulting in the baby sustaining a broken leg, per Toronto Sun and CBC.
    Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Other bills could lead to new relief for small businesses in the future, with lawmakers endorsing the creation of studies and working groups that will look at things like supporting artificial intelligence use by small businesses and tourism.
    P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
  • Legal departments also use it for contract review against standard terms, analyzing negotiation language, processing large document sets for relevant arguments, and supporting intellectual property monitoring.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius began after a Dutch cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage.
    Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
  • For instance, that giant water bottle is not something any European is carrying around.
    Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • After their disappointing season, Belichick and his staff at UNC also took advantage of the transfer portal, bolstering key positions, edge rusher and tight end especially, to give them a better chance to improve.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
  • But Canada is focused on bolstering new alliances.
    Reuters, NBC news, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • The memory underpinning those systems needs to hold up in one of the harshest environments imaginable.
    Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 18 May 2026
  • The robust reporting underpinning these characters gives Van Dyk a roadmap.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Schmon praises Cannes for upholding artistic excellence and the gains made so far by the fest’s programmers, but would like to see the festival engage more with organizations like hers.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
  • Standing up to British tyranny was not breaking the law, but upholding it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Undergirding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirding. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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