Thesaurus results for UNDERGIRDING

undergirding

verb

present participle of undergird

as in sustaining

to hold up or serve as a foundation for the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 undergirding Ukrainians awoke on Wednesday to find that their military had been restricted in its use of Starshield, the American satellite service undergirding swaths of the nation’s defensive infrastructure and weaponry. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026 Gallego’s sweeping proposals certainly look like the policy engine undergirding a 2028 presidential campaign. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026 The paradox is at the heart of the magical thinking undergirding our prison culture. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2026 This week, Ars hosted a live discussion with Ross Scott about the Stop Killing Games movement and its ongoing efforts to ensure that games remain playable even after the original publisher shuts down the online servers undergirding them. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026 The gain helps cement Microsoft’s Azure as a leading cloud giant behind Amazon Web Services, and as one of the most prominent providers of the infrastructure undergirding the AI era. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 29 July 2026 Beyond the commercial aspect, the assumptions undergirding death positivity have begun to feel nearly as outdated as putting lipstick on a corpse. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 But for hardcore believers, this didn’t mean that the philosophy undergirding the Soviet experiment was wrong. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026 But there are key threads undergirding it. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 17 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirding

Verb

Dieffenbach made the big play after sustaining an apparent leg injury on a hard hit late in the first half.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Rutgers starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan left after sustaining a blow to the head 6 minutes, 25 seconds into the first quarter and didn’t return.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of sustaining

Verb

With roaring support from a packed crowd, Macklemore launched his Free Palestine Tour in Ireland’s capital Monday, just over a month after he was controversially dropped as Ed Sheeran’s supporting act.

— Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
Attorneys general from 39 states and the District of Columbia have filed an amicus brief supporting New Jersey’s case against Kalshi.

— Josh Appel, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of supporting

Verb

The party recently named New Mexico as one of the earliest states for its next presidential primary, bolstering its prominence in national politics and ensuring more visits from White House hopefuls.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
After bolstering the management of its fashion business, Kering is shaking up its creative director ranks, with the departure of Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent and Seán McGirr at Alexander McQueen.

— Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of bolstering

Verb

Oracle's database plays a crucial role in underpinning businesses across healthcare and finance in logging and securing data.

— Seema Mody, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
The president has, at times, directed his campaign of retribution toward the advocacy groups underpinning civil society.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of underpinning

Verb

Courts, however, have ruled otherwise, upholding both Sullivans’ spots on the ballot.

— Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
By contrast, the CJP considers peaceful protest, along with upholding the country’s constitution, essential elements of democracy.

— Amrita Basu, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of upholding

Browse Nearby Words

undergirded

undergirding

undergirds

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“Undergirding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirding. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of undergirding

verb

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