underbelly

noun

un·​der·​bel·​ly ˈən-dər-ˌbe-lē How to pronounce underbelly (audio)
1
: a vulnerable area
also : a corrupt or sordid part
probing the underbelly of the entertainment industry
2
: the underside of a body or mass

Examples of underbelly in a Sentence

They exposed the underbelly of the nation's economic policy. the sordid underbelly of city life
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Apparently the finest cashmere comes from the soft fiber combed from the underbelly of Mongolian goats. Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2025 In 2016, on the verge of being caught for misappropriating millions from his celebrity NFL clients to finance terrible feature films, Blazer confessed his crimes to the federal government and explained how the underbelly of college sports really worked, in gruesome detail. Guy Lawson, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025 Thus, the underbelly feels raw and vulnerable — the rewards worth all the risk. Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025 Their soft underbellies are sliced open, where roe can then be cut out by the handful. Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for underbelly

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underbelly was in 1942

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Cite this Entry

“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underbelly. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

underbelly

noun
un·​der·​bel·​ly ˈən-dər-ˌbel-ē How to pronounce underbelly (audio)
: the underpart of a body or mass
the underbelly of a bomber
also : an area open to attack or damage
the army's underbelly
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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