UNDERSCORING Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

underscoring 1 of 2

noun

as in emphasis

a special notice or importance given to something the underscoring we've given the play's local setting will hopefully increase ticket sales

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

underscoring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of underscore

as in emphasizing

to make more apparent a history of the Old West that underscores the role that pioneer women had in bringing order and stability to the wild frontier

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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.

Recent Examples of underscoring

Noun

The staging could do without the underscoring that becomes heavy-handed in the play’s later stages. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026 Sound designer Hunter Moody provides delicate underscoring setting appropriate to moods as needed. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026 But from the opening moments, set in the cozy cabinet of curiosities shop — cue orchestrator/arranger Matt Brind’s mysterious and twinkling Danny Elfman-esque underscoring — there’s real precision to Luke Sheppard’s production. — David Benedict, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025

Verb

Houston is 36-27 in those games and 20-28 in all the others, underscoring what Peña’s mere presence means to a team without much depth behind him. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Her work often integrates the modes of perception, underscoring the ephemerality of experience in the hosting venues of her exhibitions. — News Desk, Artforum, 31 July 2026 Last month, France was also named Creative Country of the Year at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, underscoring the country’s growing influence across the global creative industries. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 31 July 2026 Meta fell short of that test earlier in the week, while Microsoft passed it, underscoring why Amazon’s results landed so well. — Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The Allegheny County courts point tenants back to state law, including the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, which lays out notice rules but no rent cap, underscoring that Harrisburg — not local officials — sets the limits. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 31 July 2026 Other versions of the proposal have called for as much as $350 million and projected a longer road to profitability, underscoring how fluid LIV’s plans remain. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 After the announcement, economists appeared as divided as the policymakers, underscoring the uncertain prospects for a rate hike by the end of this year. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 July 2026 Since the campaign went off the air last year, calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW have already dropped significantly, underscoring the vital role these public education efforts play. — Candace McKnight, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underscoring

Noun

Madison Social caters a variety of gatherings including weddings, baby showers, receptions, brunches and corporate events — with the emphasis on building community.

— Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Achane – and Jaylen Wright, for that matter – love the emphasis on the run.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Definition of emphasis

Verb

Notably, American family offices themselves actually increased home-country allocation from 86% to 88%, reinforcing Patterson’s diversification framing over one of outright flight.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Rather than concentrating education at a single point in time, scaffolding supports individuals through a sequence of decisions, building understanding gradually and reinforcing it in context.

— Debby Moorman, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of reinforcing

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underscores

underscoring

undersea

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“Underscoring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underscoring. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of underscoring

noun

verb

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