as in sustains
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 undergirds
Washington and Lee’s commitment to freedom of expression undergirds its ethos of civility.
—
Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The measurement for streaming viewership has come under fire in recent weeks, notably against Nielsen, which provides the third-party ratings currency that undergirds the $5 billion-plus TV advertising market.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 15 Sep. 2025
For much of the film, that enticing idea undergirds the main plot line like a ticking time bomb.
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
He may yet be proved wrong, but, after three years and counting, this is the fundamental assumption that undergirds his thinking on matters of war and peace.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The measurement for streaming viewership has come under fire in recent weeks, notably against Nielsen, which provides the third-party ratings currency that undergirds the $5 billion-plus TV advertising market.
—Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 15 Sep. 2025
For much of the film, that enticing idea undergirds the main plot line like a ticking time bomb.
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
He may yet be proved wrong, but, after three years and counting, this is the fundamental assumption that undergirds his thinking on matters of war and peace.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirds
Verb
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Prohibition undermines personal liberty, sends billions in potential revenue to other states, and sustains dangerous black markets instead of replacing them with a safe, regulated system.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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Medicaid exists to provide access to health care, not to penalize the unpaid labor that sustains families and communities.—
Emily D. Tisdale,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Nexus One now supports job-aware observability, allowing operators to correlate network behavior directly with GPU workloads.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
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Strategic movement, however, preserves neuromuscular connections, supports healthy blood flow, and helps the body maintain strength and mobility.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Unlike most hydroelectric plants, it is not located at the base of the dam, but carries water down about 1,000 feet in elevation to generate more water pressure and electricity.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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While smoking is widely understood to pose health risks, the habit also carries steep financial consequences.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Law enforcement agencies cite the automatic license-plate readers, or ALPRs, as a powerful tool that bolsters their ability to locate and stop suspects who may be on their way to committing their next assault or robbery.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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The proposal bolsters a 2017 law generally barring cities from passing laws to limit short-term rentals.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undergirds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirds. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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