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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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Example Sentences
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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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Starting your day with protein can help steady your blood sugar, which, in turn, may keep inflammation in check.—
Lauren Manaker,
SELF,
26 Mar. 2026
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The plan was to use the M100 to steady the excavator while the 470RR rotated it upright.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Mar. 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 men, ranging in age from twenty-nine to sixty-four, carried rucksacks containing the few items that they were allowed to bring.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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For a Nets team that has watched too many games slip in the same way, the early minutes of the fourth carried a familiar warning.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 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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