underworld

noun

un·​der·​world ˈən-dər-ˌwərld How to pronounce underworld (audio)
Synonyms of underworldnext
1
: the place of departed souls : hades
2
archaic : earth
3
: the side of the earth opposite to one : antipodes
4
: a social sphere below the level of ordinary life
the town's seedy underworld
especially : the world of organized crime

Synonyms of underworld

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Examples of underworld in a Sentence

a magazine article taking an insightful look at the underworld inhabited by street people
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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.
Blending crime fiction with social satire, the series follows Ray Carney, a furniture salesman who can’t help but be drawn into the criminal underworld of Harlem. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 31 July 2026 The series’ blend of soapy melodramatics and rough-and-tumble underworld menace will be familiar to anybody who has watched Power, but Power and its spinoffs have always been confident in their only-for-adults depictions of adults-only situations. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 Father Joe follows a man of faith who wages a violent war against New York City’s criminal underworld. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 July 2026 Mafia romances are especially popular, delving into the gritty underworld of organized crime. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for underworld

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underworld was in 1598

Phrases Containing underworld

Rhymes for underworld

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Browse Nearby Words

underworker
underworld
under wraps
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Cite this Entry

“Underworld.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underworld. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

underworld

noun
un·​der·​world ˈən-dər-ˌwərld How to pronounce underworld (audio)
1
: the place of the souls of the dead
2
: the side of the earth opposite to one
3
: the world of organized crime

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