undergrowth

as in vegetation
low-growing plant life (such as bushes or seedlings) existing under larger trees in a forest A thick undergrowth covered the rain forest.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 undergrowth To protect it, the scientists cleared the undergrowth around the stenophylla and marked the location with stones. Marta Zaraska, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025 Some 30 feet ahead, a dark silhouette materialized between the vines and tangled undergrowth. Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025 Wild horses have roamed the Galician mountains for centuries, playing a crucial role in fire prevention by curbing flammable undergrowth – but their numbers are dwindling as human development clashes with nature. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025 But the scientists would later learn that Beryl, who moved attentively through the undergrowth with occasional pauses, responded the same way each time—by stepping forward. Avery Schuyler Nunn, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for undergrowth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergrowth
Noun
  • There are about 3,600 bunkers on Sazan, armored cement mushrooms emerging from the vegetation or perched on mountaintops like lookouts against phantom American aircraft carriers or Soviet frigates.
    Marzio Mian, The Dial, 12 June 2025
  • The main reasons for the constant uptick are power line undergrounding, other fire mitigation projects and vegetation management by PG&E and other top utilities.
    Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • In summer, showy panicles of white flowers with red anthers appear like candles above the foliage.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
  • The property is packed with foliage thanks to its original owners, Harry and Mary Jane Leu, who collected plants and seeds from their travels.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 31 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Undergrowth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergrowth. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on undergrowth

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!