underbelly

noun

un·​der·​bel·​ly ˈən-dər-ˌbe-lē 

1

: a vulnerable area

also : a corrupt or sordid part

probing the underbelly of the entertainment industry

2

: the underside of a body or mass

Synonyms of underbelly

• underworld

Examples of underbelly in a Sentence

They exposed the underbelly of the nation's economic policy.

the sordid underbelly of city life

Recent Examples on the Web

There's so much personality packed into these sequences, offering fantastic world-building that helps flesh out this particular underbelly of the Star Wars universe. — Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Across the conference table, Sosanya plays Beatrice like steel swaddled in cashmere, while Miles Jupp, as her colleague David, peels away his genteel snobbery to reveal an unexpectedly dorky underbelly. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Household cleaning wipes can contain chemicals that irritate sensitive areas like the face, paws and underbelly. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

Lockheed Martin As for payload, all the weapons are carried in an internal bay in the fuselage underbelly. — New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for underbelly

• vermicelli
• allele
• appellee
• ocelli
• belly
• deli
• jelly
• kellie
• melly
• nellie
• nelly
• shelly

Kids Definition

underbelly

noun

un·​der·​bel·​ly ˈən-dər-ˌbel-ē 

: the underpart of a body or mass

the underbelly of a bomber

also : an area open to attack or damage

the army's underbelly