1
2
as in to establish
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
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Recent Examples of underlie
Many people struggling with addiction suffer from underlying trauma that must be addressed for proper, lasting recovery.
—
Kara Markley Sterling, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
These treatments aim to address what is thought to be the condition’s underlying cause: an inadequate physiological response to hormone fluctuations.
—New Atlas, 25 Mar. 2025
A dog's life expectancy will depend on the underlying cause and the duration, and severity of the disease.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
How To Play 'Connections' Connections tasks players with sorting 16 words into four distinct categories based on their underlying relationships.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Kara Markley Sterling, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
These treatments aim to address what is thought to be the condition’s underlying cause: an inadequate physiological response to hormone fluctuations.
—New Atlas, 25 Mar. 2025
A dog's life expectancy will depend on the underlying cause and the duration, and severity of the disease.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
How To Play 'Connections' Connections tasks players with sorting 16 words into four distinct categories based on their underlying relationships.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlie
Verb
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Thorne on March 23 joined 100,000 parents who support the Smartphone Free Childhood Pact, a pledge not to give children smartphones until the age of 14.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2025
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Most had lived in the country for many years and worked hard to support their families.—
Lea Skene,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Season 1 didn’t have a ton of mixing, but there was such a great conflict established between Armond and Shane.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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His pins along the boards not only gave his linemates time to change, but time for the next line to get on the ice and establish positioning to maintain presence in the offensive zone.—
Omar White,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hartford Courant Senior Guy Ragland Jr. from Northwest Catholic-West Hartford, nearly erased that lead himself with a second-half surge, and finished the game with 16 points, but Yale steadied.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
16 Mar. 2025
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After playing the first five holes in 3 over, Bhatia steadied the ship a bit and will enter Sunday four back of Spaun.—
Justin Ray,
The Athletic,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In addition to seven treatment rooms, an immersive hydrotherapy circuit, and dedicated spaces including a steam room, sauna, whirlpools, a cold plunge, and a full-service salon, every detail is curated to recalibrate the nervous system and ground the senses.—
Ashlee Marie Preston,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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For Williams, performing live has also been a way of remaining grounded and connected as the world crumbles.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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While many associated the Jacksonville Roar with their spirit and pep on the field at games, both the mother-daughter duo emphasize that their duties upon upholding the Florida franchise's cheerleader title expand beyond the sidelines, too.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
19 Mar. 2025
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To uphold the best of this European tradition now will require more from liberals than just a defense of the old continent against the new.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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What To Know After Trump threatened to cut off U.S. support for Ukraine and criticized Europe for its military reliance on Washington, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen devised a plan to reinforce the EU's defense capabilities.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
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In 2017, the La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee approved a project to reinforce the lower third of the bluff with erodible concrete.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The charges carry a possible 5-year prison sentence.—
Rosemary Westwood,
NPR,
19 Mar. 2025
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Simpson, 90, isn’t worthy of carrying their luggage — not theirs, not anyone else’s on the list.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Gold maintains a consistent perception as a stable store of value, underpinned by centuries of human consensus.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Without meaningful regulation or self-restraint by AI firms, the arms race between data-hungry bots and those attempting to defend open source infrastructure seems likely to escalate further, potentially deepening the crisis for the digital ecosystem that underpins the modern Internet.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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