underbelly
noun
un·der·bel·ly
ˈən-dər-ˌbe-lē 
1
: a vulnerable area
also
: a corrupt or sordid part
probing the underbelly of the entertainment industry
2
: the underside of a body or mass
Examples of underbelly in a Sentence
They exposed the underbelly of the nation's economic policy.
the sordid underbelly of city life
Recent Examples on the Web
The most caustic people in the world often have the softest underbellies — at least if Alden Ehrenreich is playing them.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Lane’s Willy is both a paternal tyrant and a wounded bear, growling if anyone interrupts him yet unable to conceal his soft underbelly.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The same is true on defence, where the third pairing of Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble are putting up incredible underlying numbers in limited minutes against the underbelly of Tampa Bay’s lineup.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The Investigation Discovery series purports to expose the underbelly of pop culture's most infamous moments through in-depth interviews and industry analysis.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
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Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Lane’s Willy is both a paternal tyrant and a wounded bear, growling if anyone interrupts him yet unable to conceal his soft underbelly.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The same is true on defence, where the third pairing of Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble are putting up incredible underlying numbers in limited minutes against the underbelly of Tampa Bay’s lineup.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The Investigation Discovery series purports to expose the underbelly of pop culture's most infamous moments through in-depth interviews and industry analysis.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underbelly. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underbelly
noun
un·der·bel·ly
ˈən-dər-ˌbel-ē
: the underpart of a body or mass
the underbelly of a bomber
also
: an area open to attack or damage
the army's underbelly
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