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2
as in to establish
to form the basis or foundation of (something, such as an idea)
The assumption that underlies their argument is faulty.
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Recent Examples of underlie
Hair loss can be caused by genetics, hormones, age, or underlying medical conditions (like some autoimmune diseases).
—
Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The deal made no attempt to resolve the underlying political conflict.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
While the budget is balanced on paper, the underlying problems remain unresolved.
—Jason Gallion, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
Yet that is precisely the premise underlying the bill’s approach.
—Cláudia Nunes, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The deal made no attempt to resolve the underlying political conflict.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
While the budget is balanced on paper, the underlying problems remain unresolved.
—Jason Gallion, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
Yet that is precisely the premise underlying the bill’s approach.
—Cláudia Nunes, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlie
Verb
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By that, Lentsch means that the general public — the masses — overwhelmingly support public lands and have the potential to throw their support behind the cause.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
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The school raised the majority of the funding for the forest from the Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, which will also support an environmental science project on campus.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Korean’s quartet of assists was one shy of the MLS single-game record set by Lionel Messi last year, and established a new high for LAFC.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Year one established the foundation.—
Aaron Segal,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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October 23 – November 21 Scorpio, your presence can steady the room.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
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Sporting made a substitution at halftime, bringing on Diego Borges, which appeared to steady things a bit for Kansas City.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kochanowicz also escaped a first-and-third, two-out jam in the first by striking out Randy Arozarena looking at an 88-mph slider and a two-on, two-out jam in the third by getting Arozarena to ground out.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The club did not score in the fourth despite having three singles, and in the fifth, the club squandered Roman Anthony’s two-out triple after Trevor Story grounded out to end the inning.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trump is asking the justices to uphold his Day 1 executive order eliminating birthright citizenship under a novel interpretation of the 14th Amendment and requiring parents to prove their own legal status before citizenship is granted to their children.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
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The case currently hinges on whether 1980s-era forensic evidence, such as hair matching, is enough to uphold a death sentence when modern DNA testing fails to provide a definitive answer.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ezra's parents say that the moment is one that will be memorable for some time to come, further reinforcing his dreams of one day joining the law enforcement community.—
Lesley Marin,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Authorities reinforced security around Jewish sites in the wake of explosions last month outside synagogues in Liege, Belgium, and the Dutch port city of Rotterdam and outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The tanker is believed to have carried approximately 9,000 gallons of gasoline during the crash.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
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And while vastly underused under Biff Poggi, seeing just 26 carries spanning two seasons (despite posting the highest average rush on the team), Rutledge elected to stay in green and gold and play for Tim Albin.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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China is the primary origin of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, a highly potent opioid underpinning a deadly drug epidemic in the United States.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Losing access to these facilities could force American aircraft to make longer journeys or change logistics arrangements that underpin all missions in the region.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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