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
-
These small insects have a waxy, white, cottony appearance and can usually be found in clusters on the underside of leaves and in stem joints.—
Sheryl Geerts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 May 2025
-
Make sure to cover every surface of the plant, especially on the undersides of leaves and in crevices between stems.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Rodriguez walked passed the victims and two other people, then turned to face the victims' backs and fired several times at them, the affidavit said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
-
The long gray building appears to be an amalgamation of a house and a cafe, back to back.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 May 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
-
Does Kate Middleton have a soft spot for Prince Harry & Meghan Markle?—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
21 May 2025
-
Will Howard had ‘soft spot’ for Pittsburgh Though prospects came from around the country to participate in minicamp, Downingtown, Pa., native Will Howard jumped in his car and made a casual, four-hour drive across the state to join his new team.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
12 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 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share