underpinned
Gave foundational support
Underpinned is the past tense of underpin, which means to support from beneath or provide a foundation for.
Literally, workers underpin a building by strengthening its base: The old structure was underpinned with concrete.
More often figurative: Her argument was underpinned by decades of research.
The word suggests essential support that may not be immediately visible.
Gave support to
- bolsteredStrengthened or supported
- upheldAffirmed on review
- sustainedKept up continuously
- buttressedStrengthened with external bracing
reinforced · strengthened · fortified · supported · propped · shored · braced · undergirded
Solid stone underground
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
- footingSecure ground position
framework · infrastructure · substructure · pillar · anchor · backbone · substrate · scaffolding
backed
Gave support to
buttressed · reinforced · strengthened · fortified · supported · propped · shored · braced · undergirded · maintained
bedrock
Solid stone underground
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
footing · framework · infrastructure · substructure · pillar · anchor · backbone · substrate · scaffolding · keystone
underpinneddemolished
Completely destroyed a structure
undermined · destabilized · collapsed · toppled · uprooted
underpinnedundermined
Weakened by stealth
refuted · disproved · invalidated · contradicted · discredited
- philosophical underpinningsFoundational concepts and assumptions