1
as in supported
to lie underneath
A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in grounded
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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of underlay
Chris Messina steals scenes as unhinged, foul-mouthed agent David Falk, while Jason Bateman underlays his straight-man deadpan with subtle emotion as Rob Strasser.
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Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 July 2023
Still, the split is so contentious here many are now questioning whether the prior sense of unity was a mirage, as events underlay how cultural clashes can flourish even in towns otherwise politically homogenous.
—Tim Craig, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023
Sometimes rapid drumming underlaid the chant-singing.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2023
Creating the ne plus ultra of the jazz avant-garde while reclaiming the prehistory that underlay it, Ayler reconceived its place in Black American culture.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for underlay 
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 July 2023
Still, the split is so contentious here many are now questioning whether the prior sense of unity was a mirage, as events underlay how cultural clashes can flourish even in towns otherwise politically homogenous.
—Tim Craig, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023
Sometimes rapid drumming underlaid the chant-singing.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2023
Creating the ne plus ultra of the jazz avant-garde while reclaiming the prehistory that underlay it, Ayler reconceived its place in Black American culture.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for underlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlay
Verb
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Asian federations fully supported the Saudi Arabian proposal shortly thereafter.Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 11 Dec. 2024
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Helpdesk staff will be supported by chatbots that will manage the most routine queries as well as create and maintain knowledge bases, and technical writers will use them to assist with drafting, editing and reviewing documentation.Bernard Marr, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Members of a county rescue team and regional task force joined the Coast Guard in its search for the missing hiker over the weekend, but their efforts were temporarily stalled by challenging weather that grounded the flight crew.Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024
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Glover and Maya Erskine star as married spies who eventually turn on each other in a dramedy that’s at once visually gorgeous and emotionally grounded, exploring the instant bond that can form between two lonely souls who share a dark wit.Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In an April 2024 appeal hearing, a judge granted Julie's appeal and vacated her seven-year sentence in June due to insufficient evidence while Todd's sentence was upheld.Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
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After the ban was upheld by a federal appeals court last week, social media users and creators are wondering what the future of the short-form video app will be, and for some aspiring influencers, TikTok’s legal drama could serve as a cautionary tale.Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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For instances onstage, Lachman established breathtaking silhouettes of the soprano from behind to act as an invitation.Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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Trust is intangible, yet self-evident—and best established in the kinds of face-to-face interactions that are unfortunately being de-prioritized across every industry.Koray Köse, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The toes and heels are seamless and reinforced, which helps prevent hot spots and blisters as well as adding durability.Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 10 Dec. 2024
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The latest reading reinforced the need for more support a day after top officials pledged to bolster stuttering growth.Peter Catterall, Fortune Asia, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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And yet the show has a soothing effect, predicated on the idea that human behavior (and misery) isn’t mysterious or unchangeable.Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Dec. 2024
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Part of that unpredictability is predicated on Sonne’s performance, which errs on the wild side.Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near underlay
Cite this Entry
“Underlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlay. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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