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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Ajay Devgn is back as Amay Patnaik in Raid 2, and the sequel digs deeper into the underbelly of India’s political corruption.
—
Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Today the silk duvets are still sewn by hand in the underbelly of the hotel.
—Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 5 May 2025
This 74-episode slow-burn neo-noir mystery series is about a successful young surgeon enmeshed in the underbelly of international crime and politics.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 2 May 2025
People will be surprised by the underbelly of this world, and how a dangerous player like Smith can manipulate the system, manipulate viewership, manipulate the parents, and manipulate the kids.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Today the silk duvets are still sewn by hand in the underbelly of the hotel.
—Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 5 May 2025
This 74-episode slow-burn neo-noir mystery series is about a successful young surgeon enmeshed in the underbelly of international crime and politics.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 2 May 2025
People will be surprised by the underbelly of this world, and how a dangerous player like Smith can manipulate the system, manipulate viewership, manipulate the parents, and manipulate the kids.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underbelly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly
Noun
-
Caught Stealing stars Butler as Hank Thompson, a down-on-his-luck former baseball player who is suddenly immersed in the New York City crime underworld in the late 1990s.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
21 May 2025
-
There’s nothing wrong with a performer of Cruise's stature and charisma grappling with darkness and ambiguity in this way — in the past that resulted in one of his best, most misunderstood performances, as a doctor slipping down into a moral underworld in Eyes Wide Shut.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
His videos, paring down the frog, or fleshy, central toe on the underside of a hoof, or painting on polish, regularly get hundreds of millions of views.—
Sarah Maslin Nir,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
-
The underside of your vehicle is hot and can easily ignite grasses from your exhaust muffler.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
For those who experience back or hip pain, Troxel suggests sleeping on the back with a pillow under the knees.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
5 June 2025
-
The only duos put ahead of them were Christian Benford and Taron Johnson of the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans defensive backs Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Senzatela put the first three runners on base before getting an out in the bottom of the first.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
31 May 2025
-
When Irvine’s offense worked another opportunity to score in the bottom of the eighth after Penso placed down a sacrifice bunt, Alonso Reyes hit into a 4-6-3 double play with the bases loaded to end the rally.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Browne seems to have a soft spot for the 900-foot-high Chenoweth Home Ranch Vineyard; the grapes from here provide a combination of red- and dark-fruit flavors to which Browne attributes a constant sense of movement on the palate.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
1 June 2025
-
Xu is an avid Gold State Warriors basketball fan but has a soft spot for the Chicago Bulls, having spent many years in Illinois.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Zachary Naegele, 24, was competing at the Conley Invitational in Palmetto, Florida, last week when the bull’s horn punctured his jugular, causing blood to stream out in a heart-pounding, caught-on-camera moment.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Gone are the days of Ami Cusack cutting down men without hesitation or Natalie Bolton flossing her teeth with Jason Siska’s jugular.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share