as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
the underlying differences between democracy and dictatorship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in supporting
to lie underneath
A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in grounding
to form the basis or foundation of (something, such as an idea)
The assumption that underlies their argument is faulty.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of underlying
Joy Emeh, Health, 10 Feb. 2025
Critics say the deal does not address the underlying issue of gatekeeping scientific knowledge, while proponents see it as a way to spur scientific discovery.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2025
Mill Etienne, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Treatment for a burning sensation in your feet varies based on the underlying cause, but medications and lifestyle changes may help.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underlying 
Adjective
In this case, treatment for low libido will aim at first treating or managing the underlying health issue.
—Joy Emeh, Health, 10 Feb. 2025
Critics say the deal does not address the underlying issue of gatekeeping scientific knowledge, while proponents see it as a way to spur scientific discovery.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
Unfortunately, many people miss out on this valuable option and instead turn to sleep medications, which often fail to address the underlying issues.
—Mill Etienne, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Treatment for a burning sensation in your feet varies based on the underlying cause, but medications and lifestyle changes may help.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Health, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underlying
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlying
Adjective
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Doctors who have defected in recent years often speak of poor working conditions and shortages of everything from medicine to basic health care supplies.—
Edward Szekeres,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
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By Alice Park February 11, 2025 1:02 PM EST The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest funder of biomedical research in the world, and its grants create the foundation of basic science knowledge on which major health advances are built.—
Alice Park,
TIME,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The top priority for now is identifying the victims, supporting their families and treating the two survivors, Choi told a disaster management meeting in Seoul.—
Ju-min Park and Hongji Kim,
USA TODAY,
31 Dec. 2024
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If your current job in comms is growing stale, consider pivoting to supporting an organization fighting climate change.—
Aliza Knox,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Capricorn’s grounding energy supports turning your reflections into practical insights.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
refinery29.com,
5 Jan. 2025
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For grounding and emotional stability Smoky quartz is a grounding powerhouse that perfectly complements Capricorn’s earthy nature, offering equal amounts of protection and emotional stability.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The new entrenchment tools genuinely come in handy, allowing players to build rudimentary fox holes and trenches that are useful to weather an enemy assault.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
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Some of its elements were rudimentary, in a way that revealed the divides in American society: instructors spoke about healthy eating, and a motivational speaker gave a talk on how to project confidence.—
Dexter Filkins,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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By Daniella Gray Family and Parenting Reporter 1 With children as young as 6 months already establishing a digital footprint, parents who opt to keep their kids offline find themselves in the minority.—
Andy Biggs,
Newsweek,
25 Dec. 2024
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In this case, establishing retribution as the motive would be very clear, because Patel has laid out beforehand that in fact is his motive.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
What's happening: Sixth grade will be reconfigured into the elementary buildings, while middle schools will focus on seventh and eighth grades.—
Linh Ta,
Axios,
12 Feb. 2025
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According to the department, its elementary and secondary programs serve more than 50 million students in about 98,000 public schools and 32,000 private schools.—
Austin Denean,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Labor market stamina, marked by low layoffs and strong wage growth are underpinning consumer spending.—
Lucia Mutikani,
USA TODAY,
21 Dec. 2024
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The maker of graphics processing units underpinning large language models has benefited, as data center demand has swollen since ChatGPT’s late-2022 launch.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Finer details on the type of robots being used or their functions have not yet been revealed, but clearly the production of rebar (the reinforcing rods used in concrete construction) will be a major focus, which makes sense since Neom is currently using around 20% of the world's steel supply.—
Adam Williams,
New Atlas,
22 Dec. 2024
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Share how feedback has shaped your leadership journey, reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes,
22 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near underlying
Cite this Entry
“Underlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlying. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
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