underbelly

noun

ˈən-dər-ˌbe-lē How to pronounce underbelly (audio)
Definition of underbellynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underbelly There's so much personality packed into these sequences, offering fantastic world-building that helps flesh out this particular underbelly of the Star Wars universe. — Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Household cleaning wipes can contain chemicals that irritate sensitive areas like the face, paws and underbelly. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 Lockheed Martin As for payload, all the weapons are carried in an internal bay in the fuselage underbelly. — New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2026 This uneven wear on the underbelly of a sneaker is a big no-no — prompting wearers to rotate out their running shoes at rapid rates. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
  1. underworld
  2. underside
  3. back
  4. bottom
  5. soft spot
  6. jugular
Noun
  • Dementia related to untreated syphilis left him incapable of resuming his position atop the country’s criminal underworld.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The show revolved around Crockett and Tubbs, two undercover detectives infiltrating South Florida’s criminal underworld.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of underworld
Noun
  • Storyteller Overland Storyteller also enhances the rear’s role as a storage garage, adding MOLLE-style organizational panels to the underside of the bed.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The right temple features a multipurpose rocker and action button on the underside, near the hinge, with an additional button on the top side.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of underside
Noun
  • Foods checked in the back cooler are not at 41 degrees or below.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Carl leans in, a triangle of packing peanuts on his shirt, one arm behind his back.
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of back
Noun
  • These entries make a good pair, and mirror each other at the top and bottom of the grid.
    — Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • And the enormous investment in AI is a positive development keeping the bottom from falling out—though only in certain economies.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of bottom
Noun
  • Coyuchi’s soft goods have earned a soft spot in our hearts for their durable, organic fabrication.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026
  • But after a career in Kansas City that produced one of the most prolific offenses that the NFL had ever seen, a Chiefs reunion doesn’t sound all too bad for those with a soft spot for that side of the ball.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of soft spot
Noun
  • Becerra goes for the jugular against Hilton by invoking Huntington Beach!
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Even Rodrigo, the almost too-good student who should make a mess someday, went total sprite, toying with everyone’s jugular.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of jugular

Browse Nearby Words

underbellies
underbelly
underbodies
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Cite this Entry

“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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