as in to sustain
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology

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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 undergird By signaling a connection to these figures, Harris is aligning her campaign to the founding principles that undergird American politics. Camille Davis / Made By History, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024 After all, the same constitutional order that undergirds America’s contemporary liberal democracy permitted nearly a century of authoritarianism in the Jim Crow South, the mass internment of Japanese Americans, and McCarthyism. Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025 Set in Canada, the U.S., and Europe during the Second World War, this historical novel explores the life of a Chinese Canadian man, Josiah Chang, whose romance with a white woman, Poppy, undergirds his drive to prove himself. The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 Many of us take for granted creative license and the freedom of expression that undergirds it. Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for undergird
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undergird
Verb
  • The veteran lineman played well during his first season as an NFL starting center before sustaining the notable injury in Week 5.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The country's fertility rate last year stood at just 1.0 births per woman, far below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to sustain population growth.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Now, a note of caution here: mods are not yet officially supported in the game.
    Barry Collins, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • European leaders largely supported Zelenskyy following his Friday Oval Office meeting with Trump.
    Luke Garrett, NPR, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Butler carried the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances.
    Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • That’s exactly what Bishop Stang did as the team carried play and eventually earned a power play opportunity.
    Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Poland, Spain, and Lithuania quickly responded to bolster Ukraine's position.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Use your learnings to bolster your security controls and processes—installing new security systems, improving security monitoring, training staff, tightening network access controls, and adjusting your incident response, business continuity, and recovery plans. 7.
    Michelle Drolet, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

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“Undergird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undergird. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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