1
as in basis
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests
the underpinnings of the theory have recently been called into question
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Relevance
2
as in support
a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else
the underpinnings of the bridge were seriously damaged in the collision
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in sustaining
to hold up or serve as a foundation for
the central beliefs that underpin a free society
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of underpinning
New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2024
Neutral-toned underpinnings, like this Chloé henley, and Gucci’s riff on the desert boot give it the extra edge necessary.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2024
Brendan O’Reilly, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underpinning 
Noun
Shedding light on other underpinnings, the forks are raked out slightly further to improve stability at faster speeds.
—New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2024
Neutral-toned underpinnings, like this Chloé henley, and Gucci’s riff on the desert boot give it the extra edge necessary.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
By embracing these technologies thoughtfully and strategically while underpinning them with robust and future-proofed networks, campuses can create a connected and dynamic environment that supports the academic and personal growth of their students.
—Brendan O’Reilly, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for underpinning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underpinning
Noun
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Some folks were riding high and maybe lacked perspective on the razor-thin margin there is for success in the NFL on a weekly basis.Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
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And that was the basis for the security and privacy controversy.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The goal of the Family Place Libraries program is to encourage libraries to be a family-friendly environment and transform them into community centers for literacy, early childhood development, parent education and engagement, family support and community information.Barbara D. Hathaway, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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The other cast members will be going to show their support.Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The Role Of Leadership In Team Building Building and sustaining a high-performance team starts with leadership.Lynda Silsbee, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
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But that doesn’t mean sustaining a career as a successful executive is devoid of its own battles.Sam Adeyemi, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Which means, if their home and immediate family is stable, their foundation is solid and all the stuff going on around their home life isn’t in focus.Caleb Harris, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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However, the plan builds on that foundation by strengthening and expanding community partnerships and coordinating routine meetings to monitor progress.Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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This is the fine-tuning of the AI after the initial data training and consists usually of performing reinforcement learning with human feedback (RLHF).Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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Thousands of soldiers are working with firefighters and police reinforcements in the immense emergency response.Hernán Muñoz and Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In the second, allegations of abuse and supporting testimonies were restricted, and Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder in March 1996.Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
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Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, appeared in public on Friday to announce Iran will continue supporting its regional proxies against Israel despite them coming under unprecedented attack and pressure.Paul Iddon, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Noun
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President-elect Donald Trump's 2024 campaign was, in part, built on a bedrock of U.S. domestic oil and gas production.Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2024
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Eastwood’s story runs on the bedrock of the unimpeachable, confident that there is a definite truth to be discovered about an event such as the killing of Kendall and that only malevolence or incompetence could prevent its discovery.Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Panama offers two long coasts—one with crashing Pacific waves and the other with crystal-blue Caribbean waters—with countless islands on both sides of its shores.Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
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Mather explained that historical eruptions have even led to harmful gases reaching Europe's shores, but that the scale of these events is far below that threshold for now.Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Underpinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underpinning. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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