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
Amid this vast landscape of solutions, no one can hope to find a precise microscopic configuration that undergirds our particular macroscopic world.
—
Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
But changing a country, changing an entire regime, because Iran isn't just run by a strong man, there's an entire philosophy, a theocratic philosophy that undergirds the Iranian government.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
But in doing so, the preservationists failed to bring the proper claim to test the statutory authority Trump claims undergirds his authority to proceed without Congress’s blessing, Leon said.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 26 Feb. 2026
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
Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
But changing a country, changing an entire regime, because Iran isn't just run by a strong man, there's an entire philosophy, a theocratic philosophy that undergirds the Iranian government.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
But in doing so, the preservationists failed to bring the proper claim to test the statutory authority Trump claims undergirds his authority to proceed without Congress’s blessing, Leon said.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 26 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirds
Verb
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The Iran war hasn’t yet taken on the coloration of an economic threat, although that bulks large on the horizon if the disruption of oil supplies created by the closing of the Strait of Hormuz continues or tightens or the Middle East energy infrastructure sustains more damage.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Boston Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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The answer is that the chlorophyll pigment dominant in green leaves is more efficient at triggering photosynthesis — the process by which plants make the sugar that sustains them — than the pigments dominant in darker leaves.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Norris supports paper ballots instead of voting machines, according to his campaign website.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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More noteworthy initiatives include the hotel’s green roof, which supports urban biodiversity, and its five-year Habitat Management Plan, run by a team of ecologists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The aircraft is a variation of the Air Force fighter jet that carries a pilot and weapons system officer.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Apr. 2026
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The aircraft is a variation of the Air Force fighter jet that carries a pilot and a weapons system officer.—
Sam Mednick,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a cash crunch, streaming subscriptions also tend to be casualties, which only bolsters the value of over-the-air TV when Americans are keeping a tight grip on their checkbooks.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Wemby bolsters his defensive-minded MVP case Wembanyama argued after Monday's win at Miami that his defensive excellence should factor into him winning MVP.—
Tom Orsborn,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undergirds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirds. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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