undergirds

verb

present tense third-person singular of undergird
as in sustains
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 undergirds Makdisi and her husband’s decision to remain in Beirut through so many seasons of uncertainty—despite their ability to expatriate with relative ease—is the central tension that undergirds Beirut Fragments. — Literary Hub, 14 July 2026 Something more insidious undergirds the SEC’s proposal than its immediate effect on corporate behavior. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 This kind of Fred-and-Ginger-meets-Laurel-and-Hardy coordination, and the trust that undergirds it, provides the authenticity in a world of red-nosed artifice. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 June 2026 Recently, plans for data center buildouts have accelerated as growing adoption of large language models such as Chat GPT stokes demand for the infrastructure that undergirds them. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 11 May 2026 The second inaccuracy that undergirds this executive order is that there is rampant fraud in mail-in voting. — John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026 Amid this vast landscape of solutions, no one can hope to find a precise microscopic configuration that undergirds our particular macroscopic world. — Quanta Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026 But changing a country, changing an entire regime, because Iran isn't just run by a strong man, there's an entire philosophy, a theocratic philosophy that undergirds the Iranian government. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026 But in doing so, the preservationists failed to bring the proper claim to test the statutory authority Trump claims undergirds his authority to proceed without Congress’s blessing, Leon said. — Ella Lee, The Hill, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergirds
  1. sustains
  2. supports
  3. carries
  4. bolsters
Verb
  • Relationships can create opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and growth, but performance sustains them.
    — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Photograph by Jake Mein for The New Yorker Outsider art thus sustains a frustrating paradox.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of sustains
Verb
  • The commitment supports Nvidia's argument that customers are generating enough returns on its AI infrastructure to justify continued spending.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Why doctors say bidets may be healthier Converts often describe simply feeling cleaner, and some research supports the idea.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of supports
Verb
  • Out back, a single monoshock is mounted to the massive single-sided swingarm that carries the solo rear wheel shod in a wiiiide 305/30R20 Kenda meat.
    — William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Brooks ran for 106 yards on 27 carries last season while contributing primarily on special teams.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of carries
Verb
  • Song landed a powerful right uppercut in the second round, securing a significant victory that bolsters his bantamweight title contention, despite a recent loss to Sean O'Malley.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Connors brothers anchor defense The return of brothers Rex and Porter Connors bolsters UCD’s defense.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of bolsters

Browse Nearby Words

undergirding
undergirds
undergo
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Cite this Entry

“Undergirds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergirds. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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