underpinned

verb

past tense of underpin
as in sustained
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the central beliefs that underpin a free society

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 underpinned As a wedding day draws closer, an assignment becomes personal, threatening the professional distance that has always underpinned Ryan’s work. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026 That approach, underpinned by organic growth, now finds expression in Egypt, where Nobu and SODIC (which has more than 27 years’ experience developing communities across Cairo and the North Coast) are creating three distinct destinations. — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026 Its military and political support underpinned the survival of nearly every regime in the region. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 This radical experiment in community empowerment offers a vision for a different model of health and care, underpinned by connected, resilient communities that support people in everyday life. — Kyle Vanelli, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026 The deconditioning model did not survive contact with the data, and the reanalysis of the trial that underpinned it is one of the more significant reversals in recent medicine. — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 That balance between Thorrington’s and Freedman’s responsibilities has underpinned the club’s meteoric rise. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Financially, these milestones were underpinned by the delivery of record top-line revenue which converted into record EBITDA. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026 That contrasts with the 'shock and awe' approach that underpinned the sweeping 'Liberation Day' levies announced in April 2025, which sent markets plummeting. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 27 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpinned
  1. sustained
  2. bolstered
  3. carried
  4. supported
  5. upheld
Verb
  • The woman was able to leave the residence before officers arrived and was later taken to Aurora Medical Center in Burlington for injuries sustained in the assault.
    — Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Absent new domestic discoveries of the scale and accessibility needed to replace them, overall production could not be sustained.
    — David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of sustained
Verb
  • The last act before festival founder Olivia Rodrigo, Roan turned it out with all of her powers—bolstered by a bold and bitchy, razor-sharp bob.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026
  • To do that, construction crews bolstered the temple’s thick granite walls with vertical cables running from the towers to its base.
    — Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of bolstered
Verb
  • Several heavy explosions shook Kuhestak, with fireballs that lighted up the night sky, according to security camera recordings carried by the semiofficial news agency Fars.
    — David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The ideas that traveled furthest were carried by story rather than analysis.
    — Bryan Adams, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of carried
Verb
  • Beyond the playa, the team has helped with disaster relief through the Grassroots Aid Partnership, including work after Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, and has supported the Moonlight Orphanage in Uganda.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Some flagship smartphones from a few years ago have supported reverse wireless charging.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of supported
Verb
  • The Supreme Court upheld the IRS’ decision to deny the school its exemption.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Missouri Court of Appeals Western District upheld Yust’s convictions in August 2023, and the Missouri Supreme Court later denied his application to transfer the case for review.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of upheld

Browse Nearby Words

underpin
underpinned
underpinning
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All