underworld

noun

un·​der·​world ˈən-dər-ˌwərld How to pronounce underworld (audio)
Synonyms of underworldnext
1
: the place of departed souls : hades
2
archaic : earth
3
: the side of the earth opposite to one : antipodes
4
: a social sphere below the level of ordinary life
the town's seedy underworld
especially : the world of organized crime

Synonyms of underworld

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Examples of underworld in a Sentence

a magazine article taking an insightful look at the underworld inhabited by street people
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.
The company’s downfall came not from its ties to the Costa Rican underworld but from Pughsley and the others’ failure to pay taxes. — Keith O’Brien, New Yorker, 25 June 2026 In the dark underworld of New Orleans, the Winters family builds an empire around a powerful new drug—crafted from the ashes of the dead—that grants users vivid, haunting visions of the past. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 June 2026 The show, which starts in 1977 in Naples, follows Pietro Savastano – a tough city kid from a poor neighborhood – who is set to enter the criminal underworld as a means of survival. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 16 June 2026 Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2 drops you into the galaxy’s underworld as Kay Vess, a scoundrel trying to pull off the biggest heist in the Outer Rim. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for underworld

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underworld was in 1598

Phrases Containing underworld

Rhymes for underworld

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Browse Nearby Words

underworker
underworld
under wraps
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

underworld

noun
un·​der·​world ˈən-dər-ˌwərld How to pronounce underworld (audio)
1
: the place of the souls of the dead
2
: the side of the earth opposite to one
3
: the world of organized crime

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