UNDERBELLIES Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

underbellies

noun

plural of underbelly

as in underworlds

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 undersides

the side or part facing downward from something the underbelly of the old submarine is in bad shape

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in backs

a vulnerable point the vast, thinly guarded southern border was obviously the underbelly of the nation's line of defense

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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 underbellies The most caustic people in the world often have the softest underbellies — at least if Alden Ehrenreich is playing them. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026 Cashmere is expensive because these goats produce a limited amount of this precious fiber, found on their underbellies, and the process of obtaining the wool is labor-intensive. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026 Humpbacks congregate here, creating pufflike splashes on the horizon and flashing their fins and underbellies at all distances. — Darrell Hartman, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Aug. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbellies

Noun

Robert, the son of a more-like-a-brother cousin of Carney’s, disappears, and Carney sets out to find him, navigating the dual underworlds of Harlem crime and Queens politics.

— David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
When the gang comes to the attention of Major Chester Campbell, a DCI in the Royal Irish Constabulary, the wheels are set in motion for adventures through the dangerous underworlds of early 20th-century Britain.

— Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2026

Definition of underworlds

Noun

Greenling said some of the sharks had red markings on their undersides, prompting concerns about what the deaths could mean for the water.

— Ross DiMattei, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Inspect your roses often, especially tender new growth and the undersides of leaves where pests like to hide.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of undersides

Noun

When Jason Larimore came out as gay in 1994 in small-town Kentucky, almost everyone in his life turned their backs on him except his mom — and Dolly Parton.

— Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Dallas cleaned house on the defensive coaching staff, hiring 34-year-old defensive backs coach Christian Parker from Philadelphia as their new coordinator.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of backs

Noun

Fagnano was able to diagnose some of the disguises from Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, finding soft spots in zone coverages both in the short and intermediate areas of the field.

— Daniel Popper, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Other common causes of soft spots include bruising during transport or storage, or improper storage.

— Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of soft spots

Noun

The book is, in fact, a sober, evenhanded analysis of a field that, until recently, had few chinks in its armor.

— Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
The result is a fiery and impassioned offering that finds the veteran fully engaged and intent on proving no chinks have been left in his armor despite his tenuous back-and-forth with his Compton counterpart.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 15 May 2026

Definition of chinks

Browse Nearby Words

underappreciated

underbellies

underbelly

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“Underbellies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underbellies. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of underbellies

noun

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