1
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
Whether Pirro’s announcement resolves the underlying standoff is a different question.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Without that underlying menace, the show's final stretch struggles to land.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Maybe the same process could be underlying it, just [with] different areas of the body [being] affected.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
Zeroing out items that have been at current spending levels for years is not the best response to the underlying structural imbalances.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Without that underlying menace, the show's final stretch struggles to land.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Maybe the same process could be underlying it, just [with] different areas of the body [being] affected.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
Zeroing out items that have been at current spending levels for years is not the best response to the underlying structural imbalances.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlie
Verb
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Your browser does not support the video tag.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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Zendaya − Holland's fiancée (or perhaps wife, if her longtime stylist Law Roach is to be believed) − also stopped by to support, in a stunning blue-and-white sundress.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Finally, in overcoming this vexing moment, the two would establish a painterly repartee that altered the trajectory of their own work and, by extension, modern art.—
Susan Tallman,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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Through this exhibition program, which shed a light on a generation of LA artists, The Box quickly established itself as a venturesome gallery and one of the most important in the city.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gentle movement, like going for a walk, can steady your breathing and signal your body that’s it safe to relax.—
Lesly Gregory,
AJC.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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Inside the bathroom, Daisy tries to steady Becka, urging her to drink water.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On immigration, Tamayo offered unequivocal support for the ordinance, grounding his position in personal experience with affected families during his 11 years as a Chula Vista Elementary School District trustee.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Lead with calm confidence, but keep your claims grounded.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The questions go to the heart of the frustration expressed by business leaders such as Sim Tshabalala, Standard Bank’s boss, who warned just this month at Semafor World Economy that South Africa’s anemic economic growth was down to the state’s basic inability to uphold the rule of law.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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The ruling was slammed by Democrats across the nation and by the three more liberal justices on the high court, who rejected the conservative majority’s characterization that its decision upheld the Voting Rights Act rather than gutted it.—
Jack O'Connor,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That grip is reinforced by a litany of electronic nannies, all of which translate to an assuring sense of control and eagerness to discover more of the Valhalla’s powerfully balletic nature.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
25 Apr. 2026
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The measures were reinforced over the past 24 hours on the city’s outskirts with additional forces stationed along key airport access routes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That projection is based on the player’s performance in each metric over the last three seasons (five for goalies), weighted for recency where more recent seasons carry more significance and regressed to the mean.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The Moon amplifies Jupiter, helping your words land clearly and carry weight.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ditto the sophisticated modulations and subtle rhythmic shifts that underpin Puth’s best songs.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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In November, the agency announced a separate set of proposals that would dismantle several other rules underpinning the law, including changes that would hinder agencies’ ability to protect species from rapid global warming impacts.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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