1
as in basis
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests
the underpinnings of the theory have recently been called into question
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in support
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else
the underpinnings of the bridge were seriously damaged in the collision
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
the central beliefs that underpin a free society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underpinning
New Atlas, 17 Mar. 2026
All that said, heavy underpinnings and armor plating cost weight.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
Sophia Bollag, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
But there’s an irresistible spirit of youthful exuberance underpinning it all.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underpinning
Noun
The jawy little hammerhead camper now rolls out in its sixth iteration, combining the same ultra-rugged galvanized steel underpinnings with a roomier, more comfortable camping pod.
—New Atlas, 17 Mar. 2026
All that said, heavy underpinnings and armor plating cost weight.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
The central claim underpinning the investigation comes from a local group that calls itself the Riverside Election Integrity Team.
—Sophia Bollag, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
But there’s an irresistible spirit of youthful exuberance underpinning it all.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underpinning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpinning
Noun
-
Alvarado loaded the bases before Guel’s hit and then added 2 runs on 2 errors by the Wildcats.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Cruises are available on a space-available basis only.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The festival is funded in part by the city of Charlotte, with additional support from the Hispanic Federation.—
Adam Bell
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
With French support all but evaporated, organizers scramble for alternative sources.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And yet Kyoto is also a modern city with modern comforts, where people live and work amid the legacy of centuries, sustaining and sustained by a living heritage.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Over the next five decades, Florentino waits for Fermina, sustaining his devotion by writing her hundreds of letters.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
With roster movement already underway and a top-25 recruiting class incoming, the season that just concluded serves as a foundation rather than a finished product.—
Aaron Segal,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
And both reckon with the extent to which historical ignorance and the calculated distortion of the past threaten the foundation on which our country was built.—
Francine Prose,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Helicopters, dog squads and reinforcements from New Zealand were dispatched to help track Freeman, who reportedly possessed strong bushcraft and outdoor survival skills.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The American Kennel Club (AKC) emphasizes that helping fearful dogs requires patience and positive reinforcement.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The United States Powered Paragliding Association and Experimental Aircraft Association have written letters supporting the ultralight pilots in their fight against the county airport, as cited in the documents under review for the FAA’s upcoming decision.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Curators pop up in famous artists’ biographies all the time, usually as handmaidens to the creator’s genius, opening a door to a gallery here or supporting a grant application there.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike most toddlers with similar ambitions, however, Caldwell continued his excavation for over two years, until bedrock finally halted his efforts.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The facility stores waste in copper canisters embedded up to 1,480 feet deep in stable granite bedrock.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Rome, Pope Leo XIV observed the first Good Friday of his papacy by carrying a wooden cross for all of the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross, marking the first time in decades that a pope carried the cross to every station.—
Victor Jacobo,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Kelley makes a play for Göring’s trust by befriending his wife and daughter and carrying letters to them, against all regulations.—
Alice Kaplan,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underpinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpinning. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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