Thesaurus results for UNDERPINNINGS

underpinnings

noun

plural of underpinning

as in foundations

an immaterial thing upon which something else rests the underpinnings of the theory have recently been called into question

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in shores

a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else the underpinnings of the bridge were seriously damaged in the collision

Synonyms & Similar 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 underpinnings Like most social signals, the conventions around eye contact have evolutionary underpinnings. — Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 These findings, if confirmed, could explain the biological underpinnings behind why treating prenatal depression is so critical. — Catherine Demers, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 But their emergence also underscores how much psychiatry still needs to learn about the biological underpinnings of depression and why patients respond differently to treatment. — Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 15 Oct. 2026 For twenty years, McCarthy has been swimming against the current, writing novels that reflect, with unusual intensity, his disdain for the conventional underpinnings of literary fiction. — Max Callimanopulos, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026 The conversation and the word itself, which gives the seventh and final episode its title, unlocks the Biblical underpinnings and the complexities governing many of the main characters. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026 The phone, the radio, the television, the fax, the cell, texting, video calls, AI—who among us truly grasps its underpinnings? — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 The occasional hints on non-denim pieces come in the material’s colors for devoré tops, lace underpinnings and jacquard knits, which often reprise Dondup’s tribal logo. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026 Underneath the bodywork are some relatively familiar underpinnings; Bentley shares technology with Porsche as both are part of the greater Volkswagen Group empire. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpinnings

Noun

Viewers will learn about the fragile alliance between the English settlers and the Wampanoag people, and the conflict that set the stage for the earliest foundations of American identity, according to FOX Nation.

— Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026
Among Israelis, the election is widely seen as a struggle over the character of the state, pitting Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and religious allies against those seeking to preserve its liberal and secular foundations.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of foundations

Noun

Law enforcement are searching for a Viking statue stolen from a gravestone in a cemetery on the shores of Minnesota's Lake Mille Lacs.

— WCCO Staff, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Abu Simbel, on the shores of Lake Nasser south of Aswan, will also see a 92% partial solar eclipse.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of shores

Noun

The theme of the evening was family and relationships, the cornerstones of the business for the last century.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
The goal on defense is to force more opponents to throw at two cornerstones who keep making plays on the ball.

— Nate Atkins, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of cornerstones

Noun

The rest comprises things like structural supports, cooling systems, electrical connections, etc.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
The reports concern Goliath’s mechanical condition, structural supports, access areas and maintenance findings.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of supports

Noun

Clarity builds bridges and creates access, which are bedrocks of our organizational values.

— Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
The costs of health insurance are pushing small businesses — beloved by politicians and the bedrocks of entire communities — to a financial cliff.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 7 July 2026

Definition of bedrocks

Noun

Valter Mazzetti, secretary-general of the Fsp police union, told The Associated Press that soldiers could provide immediate reinforcements but not resolve police staffing shortages.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Combining a prebiotic with a probiotic creates what’s known as a synbiotic combination, giving the good bacteria in your gut both reinforcements and fuel.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of reinforcements

Browse Nearby Words

underpinning

underpinnings

underpins

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Underpinnings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpinnings. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of underpinnings

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

reticent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes