1
as in supported
to lie underneath
A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in grounded
to form the basis or foundation of (something, such as an idea)
The assumption that underlies their argument is faulty.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of underlay
Chris Messina steals scenes as unhinged, foul-mouthed agent David Falk, while Jason Bateman underlays his straight-man deadpan with subtle emotion as Rob Strasser.
—
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 July 2023
Still, the split is so contentious here many are now questioning whether the prior sense of unity was a mirage, as events underlay how cultural clashes can flourish even in towns otherwise politically homogenous.
—Tim Craig, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023
Sometimes rapid drumming underlaid the chant-singing.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2023
Creating the ne plus ultra of the jazz avant-garde while reclaiming the prehistory that underlay it, Ayler reconceived its place in Black American culture.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for underlay 
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 11 July 2023
Still, the split is so contentious here many are now questioning whether the prior sense of unity was a mirage, as events underlay how cultural clashes can flourish even in towns otherwise politically homogenous.
—Tim Craig, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2023
Sometimes rapid drumming underlaid the chant-singing.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2023
Creating the ne plus ultra of the jazz avant-garde while reclaiming the prehistory that underlay it, Ayler reconceived its place in Black American culture.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for underlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlay
Verb
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Check your router’s admin panel regularly for updates or enable automatic updates, if supported.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024
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Breaking free requires embracing vulnerability and authenticity, and feeling supported in doing so.Mark Travers, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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American Airlines flights nationwide were grounded for a short time Tuesday morning due to a technology issue, setting a rough start to one of the busiest days for holiday travel.Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
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American Airlines flights in Louisville and across the country are experiencing delays Tuesday morning after planes were briefly grounded due to an unspecified technical issue.Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The provision relies on a court determination that Texas' Senate Bill 4, or another law similar to Proposition 314, gets upheld by the courts.Ray Stern, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
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Julie, whose sentence was upheld in September 2024, will be released from the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky on March 23, 2028.Liza Esquibias, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Prices for many consumer goods will go up if tariffs are established on imports from certain countries.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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Since its date was established in the fourth century, Christmas has also changed through the years.Priscilla Whitehead, Sun Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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That left Shank Mods with two weeks to figure out how to get a 440-pound TV (and its specially designed, reinforced 171-pound stand) down from the second floor of an Osaka restaurant and to a safe location.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
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That rim, which is reinforced with a wire rod to prevent warping, especially came in handy while roasting vegetables on them.Molly Allen, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Georgia’s defense is predicated on stopping the run and taking its chances against the pass.The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
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To anyone who can’t or won’t eat anything predicated on the existence of a cow, risotto should surely be off limits.Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near underlay
Cite this Entry
“Underlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlay. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
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