1
as in supported
to lie underneath
A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.
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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.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of underlay
There are still cheerleaders who say H.W. and Clinton’s top-tax-rate increases underlay the 1990s boom and budget surpluses.
—
Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
There was another story that underlay the peace negotiations, and that was the story of the love between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024
The consumer welfare philosophy also underlay U.S. negotiations that resulted in international antitrust cooperation agreements and in competition chapters within bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Another key part of the trick involves an appreciation of two psychological systems that underlay our decision making, as described by Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist and Nobel Prize-winner.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for underlay
Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
There was another story that underlay the peace negotiations, and that was the story of the love between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024
The consumer welfare philosophy also underlay U.S. negotiations that resulted in international antitrust cooperation agreements and in competition chapters within bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Another key part of the trick involves an appreciation of two psychological systems that underlay our decision making, as described by Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist and Nobel Prize-winner.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for underlay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlay
Verb
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Congratulations to all of the sandwich shops, to all the customers that have supported us over the last 34 years, everybody everywhere.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
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Many of the opportunities available were in projects that supported the state’s narrative — from historical dramas valorizing medieval Hindu rulers, to biopics in praise of its leaders.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The launch was the first since a California Starlink launch that ended up with a second-stage failure that grounded the Falcon 9.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
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If successful, the X-59 could pave the way for faster cross-country travel without the disruptive noise that grounded earlier supersonic ambitions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His human rights, and the rights of every prisoner, are as important as every other human being’s and deserve to be upheld.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
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Their sentences were recently upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court, according to Iranian state media.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 1886, the Royal Niger Company was established in order to maintain the monopoly of palm wine and palm oil exports from the delta and its hinterland.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
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According to police, passengers on the bus were either taken to one of four local hospitals for medical treatment or taken to a reunification center established at The Salvation Army Kroc Community Center at 1315 Lime Kiln Road.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Empress, based between Greenwich, Connecticut, and Paris, remained socially enmeshed in Europe’s royal circles, but Reza stayed in the United States, completing a degree at the University of Southern California, and then living a suburban existence in Potomac, Maryland.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On one level, the NBA’s intervention reinforced traditional governance.—
Rick Burton,
Sportico.com,
21 Mar. 2026
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It was further popularized by Late Night with Conan O’Brien, which aired out-of-context clips from Walker, Texas Ranger that reinforced his over-the-top image.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The success of the farm system, much like the major league roster, will be predicated on how a number of position player prospects respond to down seasons.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Mar. 2026
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But in a salary-cap, luxury-tax, lottery league, potential expansion does matter, because the success of many who have bypassed the Heat in the playoff race has been predicated on advance planning, living for the future instead of Heat-like living largely in the moment.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlay. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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