underbelly

noun

un·​der·​bel·​ly ˈən-dər-ˌbe-lē 

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

• demimonde
• demiworld
• half-world
• netherworld
• underworld

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

Complex machinations in the underbelly of the Colosseum even allowed it to be filled with water to enact sea battles. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024

Propulsive and kind of terrifying, this is a brilliant examination of the underbelly of journalism and the people on the fringe of society who are willing to cross any moral boundary to find their brief time in the light. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 June 2024

There is space in behind for opposition attackers to exploit and this has given Spurs a soft underbelly. —Graham Ruthven, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

Dirty Hands kicks-off in the underbelly of Chicago when a routine drug deal goes bad for the Denton brothers, Richie (Muldoon) and Danny (Kevin Interdonato). —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

underbelly

noun

un·​der·​bel·​ly ˈən-dər-ˌbel-ē 

: the underpart of a body or mass

the underbelly of a bomber

also : an area open to attack or damage

the army's underbelly