as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
the underlying differences between democracy and dictatorship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in supporting
to lie underneath
A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.
Related Words
2
as in grounding
to form the basis or foundation of (something, such as an idea)
The assumption that underlies their argument is faulty.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underlying
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
In 2023, OutKick profiled the Human Rights Campaign, one of the most powerful LGBTQ advocacy groups in Washington, and found the same underlying problem.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Nolte’s death certificate lists the underlying causes of death as encephalopathy, sepsis and disseminated Mycobacterium chimaera infection.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlying
Adjective
And yet these two disorders may have the same underlying causes, as Traynor and Rosa Rademakers, a neurogeneticist who studies FTD, and their respective colleagues discovered independently in 2011.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
In 2023, OutKick profiled the Human Rights Campaign, one of the most powerful LGBTQ advocacy groups in Washington, and found the same underlying problem.
—Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
That solution is wrong, as are many of their underlying assumptions about child safety and trauma.
—Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Nolte’s death certificate lists the underlying causes of death as encephalopathy, sepsis and disseminated Mycobacterium chimaera infection.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlying
Adjective
-
The first is to start with super basic exercises unique to the core stability category.—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The state defines neglect as intentionally not meeting a child’s basic needs, such as adequate food or weather-appropriate clothing.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Snitker was emotional, thanking Ronnie for supporting him in this career for all these decades.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Investors bought tech stocks viewed as supporting the AI infrastructure buildout and dumping those seen as threatened by its adoption.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Talking things through with them can be comforting and grounding.—
Barton Goldsmith,
AJC.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Lewkowitz opened the discussion by grounding the conversation in history, noting that cotton has remained a viable and desired resource for seven millennia.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Rotifers, though microscopic, possess specialized systems such as digestive tracts and rudimentary nervous structures, making their long-term survival in a frozen state particularly notable.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
-
His pieces include solid wood chairs with a deliberately rudimentary, almost minimal design, integrating ornamental elements such as marquetry panels or tin bas-reliefs into their backs, legs or seats.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Disaster relief protections include a waiver of a one-time activation fee for establishing remote call forwarding.—
Cox Communications,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
China is Thailand's biggest trading partner, and the two countries celebrated their 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations last year.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jacobson followed his father to Concordia College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1999.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
-
And scattering experiments showed that, at an elementary level, reality was described by individual quanta, possessing specific properties common to all members of their species.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The post-oil economy will have to be powered by something, though, so the Eye of Sauron will turn its gaze elsewhere — and because the infrastructure underpinning renewable energy relies on critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs), places with access to them will fall within its sights.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Between systems, there will still be milder days, but they may be interrupted by additional reinforcing fronts.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Nonprofits and civil society groups, for their part, can boost Bang for Buck’s expansion, reinforcing methodology consistency across the manufacturing ecosystem.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlying. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
