UNDERBELLY Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

underbelly

noun

ˈən-dər-ˌbe-lē

Definition of underbelly

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

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

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 Reporters expose an underbelly of developments that affect lives and livelihoods. — Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, Fortune, 23 June 2026 The new aircraft eschews the Kennedy-era robin's-egg blue exterior of the old plane for a bolder look, with the underbelly of the plane painted navy blue with a red stripe above it. — Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026 Afterwards, in the stadium’s underbelly, Kaka, Rivaldo and Bebeto mingled with fans. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 20 June 2026 The Irish border is the soft underbelly for a process the British public has long since lost confidence in, as well as in those administering it politically. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for underbelly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly

Noun

The bodies start piling up – and business booms – but the growing enterprise puts the trio in the crosshairs of the powerful gangsters and underworld figures in the lawless border town of Saribgunj.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
What to read next There, her parents are transformed into pigs and Chihiro is thrust into a vibrant but terrifying underworld.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of underworld

Noun

Stick Velcro dots to the underside of the felt at the top and bottom, reinforcing the adhesive under the Velcro dots with a little bit of hot glue.

— Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026
But Beaty argued that the underside of the roof eaves are 20 feet above the scaffolding and that scaffolding hasn’t been erected around the rest of the marble building to protect it or examine other parts of the roof.

— Bart Jansen, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of underside

Noun

Known for unique design flair, such as the Stellar TV's concrete back mounts, Loewe seeks to establish itself in top luxury destinations, building a global lifestyle ecosystem focused on craftsmanship and innovation.

— John Archer, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
In Dallas’ preseason opener last weekend in Seattle, the only potential Week 1 starters who saw any playing time were defensive backs Caleb Downs and Shavon Revel.

— Jon Machota, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of back

Noun

San Francisco entered the bottom of the eighth inning leading 2-0, but reliever Carson Seymour allowed the tying runs to reach base when Mickey Gasper hit a leadoff double, then Nick Sogard followed by drawing a walk.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
After scoring the game’s first run in the top of the 10th, the Angels gave up two with two outs in the bottom of the inning, losing to the Texas Rangers, 2-1, on Friday night, once again wasting a scoreless start from Reid Detmers.

— Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of bottom

Noun

Infants may act sluggish or not active, vomit, be unusually fussy, face poor feeding, show a bulging soft spot on the head, or show poor reflexes.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
The plush chenille gives your feet a soft spot to land after stepping out of the shower, while the absorbent fibers help keep water off your floor — the rubber backing helps prevent the mat from shifting around, too.

— Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of soft spot

Noun

And then Alvarez went for the jugular with a grand slam to deep center field.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
The president’s instinct to go for the jugular was on display in his first campaign, when he was written off early on as an entertainer but found success with brutal takedowns.

— Zac Anderson, USA Today, 12 June 2026

Definition of jugular

Browse Nearby Words

underbellies

underbelly

underbodies

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Style

“Underbelly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbelly. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of underbelly

noun

Example Sentences

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