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 But the Stones’ undying love of blues shines through in 18 songs that revel in the seamy underbelly of America. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for underbelly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underbelly

Noun

Meanwhile Eddie’s rise through the criminal underworld is mirrored by his rise through the British establishment, bringing him into the circle of a new oleaginous aristo played by Hugh Bonneville, who is joining the cast.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
Because these operations draw from the criminal underworld, the Iranian regime can deny any involvement.

— Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 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

Department store Macy’s highlights sporty prep, statement sneakers, denim, and activewear as key trends for the 2026 back-to-school period, chiming with analyst predictions.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
The Dodgers were already used to winning by that point, having won the NL West in back-to-back years before Friedman arrived.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of back

Noun

The soft, stretchy fabric moves with you across terminals without bunching or binding, and because the top and bottom are already matched, getting dressed at the crack of dawn requires zero thought.

— Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026
The Twins struck back with three runs in the bottom of the first.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of bottom

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
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

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 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of underbelly

noun

Example Sentences

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