1
as in underworld
a social sphere that exists outside of the mainstream
unable to get work in mainstream films, the actor ended up in Hollywood's underbelly—the porn industry
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2
as in underside
the side or part facing downward from something
the underbelly of the old submarine is in bad shape
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in back
a vulnerable point
the vast, thinly guarded southern border was obviously the underbelly of the nation's line of defense
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of underbelly
An 18-year-old who has just been released from a juvenile detention center meets an alluring older man who teaches him how to survive in the underbelly of São Paulo.
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Pat Saperstein, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
But for all the absorbing spectacle, the race also had dark secret, an underbelly of corruption owing to a raft of doping violations that would emerge over time.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 26 Sep. 2024
Determined to protect his loved ones, Jake and his new K-9 partner Argos delve into a violent underbelly of crime where Jake confronts corrupt officials, uncovers a perilous drug trafficking ring and battles his own inner demons.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 18 May 2024
Thus begins James’ journey through the underbelly of Vancouver to retrieve his ride and prevent himself from falling back into a downward spiral.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for underbelly 
Pat Saperstein, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
But for all the absorbing spectacle, the race also had dark secret, an underbelly of corruption owing to a raft of doping violations that would emerge over time.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 26 Sep. 2024
Determined to protect his loved ones, Jake and his new K-9 partner Argos delve into a violent underbelly of crime where Jake confronts corrupt officials, uncovers a perilous drug trafficking ring and battles his own inner demons.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 18 May 2024
Thus begins James’ journey through the underbelly of Vancouver to retrieve his ride and prevent himself from falling back into a downward spiral.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
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Set against the backdrop of Corsica in 1995, the narrative follows the father-daughter pair as they’re forced to flee when violence erupts in the criminal underworld.Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
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As the title indicates, the story centers around Hit-Monkey (Fred Tatasciore), a snow monkey intent on taking out the Tokyo underworld with the help of his mentor, Bryce Fowler (Jason Sudeikis).Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Spread the buttercream on the undersides of one-half of the cookies, and the other half with raspberry jam.Eva Syrovy, The Denver Post, 11 Dec. 2024
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Because the material on the bed’s underside adheres to the sofa, the bed stays put.Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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An officer first shocked Johnson in his chest, then a second time in his back.Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
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Pimples that pop up on your back, shoulders, chest, and butt are no match for these picks.Deanna Pai, Allure, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This can work because the mouseover label is displayed next to the link that’s being hovered over and, when using a web browser to access Gmail, the real URL is most often displayed at the bottom of the screen.Davey Winder, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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Note that older premiere dates are listed at the bottom.Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Russia’s dependence on Western technology for its weapons systems is another important soft spot.Theodore Bunzel, Foreign Affairs, 9 Dec. 2024
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Sbarro’s car has a pleasingly boxy shape sure to appeal to anyone who has a soft spot for 1980s rally racers.Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Almost straight from the restart, France pressured Argentina into a hurried clearance, and from there France went straight for the jugular.Jonathan Clegg, WSJ, 18 Dec. 2022
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Monica goes for the jugular, among other vulnerable body parts.Charles McNultyTheater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2022
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Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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