underbelly

noun

un·​der·​bel·​ly ˈən-dər-ˌbe-lē How to pronounce underbelly (audio)
Synonyms of underbellynext
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

Synonyms of underbelly

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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
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.
There would be heroin dens and gay bars and this underbelly of popular culture at the time. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 The new aircraft eschews the Kennedy-era robin's-egg blue exterior of the old plane for a bolder look, with the underbelly of the plane painted navy blue with a red stripe above it. — Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026 Reporters expose an underbelly of developments that affect lives and livelihoods. — Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, Fortune, 23 June 2026 The Irish border is the soft underbelly for a process the British public has long since lost confidence in, as well as in those administering it politically. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for underbelly

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underbelly was in 1942

Rhymes for underbelly

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Browse Nearby Words

underbed
underbelly
under bevel
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Cite this Entry

“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underbelly. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

underbelly

noun
un·​der·​bel·​ly ˈən-dər-ˌbel-ē How to pronounce underbelly (audio)
: the underpart of a body or mass
the underbelly of a bomber
also : an area open to attack or damage
the army's underbelly
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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