as in sustains
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
the central beliefs that underpin a free society
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Recent Examples of underpins
The latest comments inject further uncertainty into an agency that provides critical data that underpins the US economy.
—
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The episode made lots of people on Merseyside conclude FSG cared only about its asset, rather than the club’s place in the community that underpins their identity.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
So complex was this undertaking that the project took seven years, launching in 1969 and missing its original plan to launch for the company’s centennial celebration in 1965 — coincidentally the year USM patented the ingenious ball joint that underpins its USM Haller modular furniture system.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Amid the chaos of revolutionary France, one man’s mathematical obsession gave way to a calculation that now underpins much of mathematics and physics.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
Evolutionary biology shows that reciprocal exchange underpins survival.
—Scott Hutcheson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Cooper underpins that search by pin-pointing the exact location of the pain that drives Springsteen’s artistry.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
This self-continuity is one of the things that underpins actual agency—and with it, the ability to form lasting commitments, maintain consistent values, and be held accountable.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Our deep relationship with fire — from cooking our food to heating our homes — underpins both our evolutionary successes and our current climate challenges.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The episode made lots of people on Merseyside conclude FSG cared only about its asset, rather than the club’s place in the community that underpins their identity.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
So complex was this undertaking that the project took seven years, launching in 1969 and missing its original plan to launch for the company’s centennial celebration in 1965 — coincidentally the year USM patented the ingenious ball joint that underpins its USM Haller modular furniture system.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Amid the chaos of revolutionary France, one man’s mathematical obsession gave way to a calculation that now underpins much of mathematics and physics.
—Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
Evolutionary biology shows that reciprocal exchange underpins survival.
—Scott Hutcheson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Cooper underpins that search by pin-pointing the exact location of the pain that drives Springsteen’s artistry.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
This self-continuity is one of the things that underpins actual agency—and with it, the ability to form lasting commitments, maintain consistent values, and be held accountable.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Our deep relationship with fire — from cooking our food to heating our homes — underpins both our evolutionary successes and our current climate challenges.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpins
Verb
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In addition to providing a safety net, Medicaid prevents higher downstream costs, sustains employment and independence, and strengthens communities in ways that benefit the entire economy.—
Our Place,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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At high elevations, cold air turns heavy monsoon precipitation into snowfall that sustains the ice.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In short, civility supports innovation, and innovation drives success.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
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Retail traders differ—100% of their trades lack customers, which supports the $0 gross receipts position.—
Robert Green,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The back went for 96 yards on 25 carries in the Chargers’ win over Denver last October.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
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Cable viewers can watch the tournament on Tennis Channel, while cord-cutters can livestream on a live TV streaming service that carries the network, including Sling Blue with Sports Extra.—
Rudie Obias,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Using such vessels bolsters the military capability of any country.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
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This new paradigm focuses on tapping into contextual intelligence underpinned by data insights, which bolsters customer knowledge and is essential for building meaningful engagement for the business and its customers.—
Rajiv Shesh,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As a public institution, UVU upholds First Amendment rights and fosters an environment where ideas – popular or controversial – can be exchanged freely, energetically, and civilly.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
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If the appeals court upholds the block, the dispute is likely to advance to the Supreme Court.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underpins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpins. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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