underbelly

[ uhn-der-bel-ee ]

noun

, plural un·der·bel·lies.

1. the lower abdomen; posterior ventral area, as of an animal's body.
2. the lower surface of an object; underside:

   the underbelly of an airplane.

3. a vulnerable area; weak point:

   an attack on the soft underbelly of Europe.

4. a dark, seamy, often hidden area or side:

   a police officer continually exposed to the underbelly of society.

underbelly

/ ˈʌndəˌbɛlɪ /

noun

1. the part of an animal's belly nearest to the ground
2. a vulnerable or unprotected part, aspect, or region

Word History and Origins

Origin of underbelly¹

First recorded in 1600–10; under- + belly

Example Sentences

Trader Joe’s pumpkin ravioli looks more like a lobster mushroom you might find in the woods, what with its deep orange top and its bright yellow underbelly.

From Outside Online

Atwood’s exploration of the dark underbelly and unforeseen consequences of genetic engineering under unchecked capitalism make it well worth a read.

From Outside Online

The last four years have shown the dark underbelly of an America that has always existed.

From Washington Blade

The golden underbelly of a bridge near the Smithsonian Metro station has the unbridled, reaching shine of a sunrise.

From Washington Post

Diggins immediately rolled over, offering Ford her underbelly.

From Outside Online

This year, with slightly more worldliness and way fewer drinks consumed, I could see the emotionally fraught underbelly.

From The Daily Beast

She shook me and we both saw its silver underbelly pass by the window of my fifth-floor walk-up in Greenwich Village.

From The Daily Beast

In fact this is a fairly new subculture, albeit one with a dark underbelly of wax-smoking.

From The Daily Beast

The press was at the height of its power when the Monica story began and Drudge was its underbelly.

From The Daily Beast

But there is an ugly underbelly to this otherwise charming story and it is not exactly a new wrinkle either.

From The Daily Beast

The scout ship responded like a nervous horse and fluttered away as the rocket burned and arced beneath the underbelly.

From Project Gutenberg

Repeatedly the two boys dived to jab and slash at the shark's soft underbelly.

From Project Gutenberg

Goode was peering at the ivory inlay on the underbelly of the stock.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• basement
• bed
• floor
• ground
• seat
• underside