undertone
noun
un·der·tone
ˈən-dər-ˌtōn 
1
: a low or subdued utterance or accompanying sound
2
: a quality (as of emotion) underlying the surface of an utterance or action
3
: a subdued color
specifically
: a color seen through and modifying another color
Examples of undertone in a Sentence
She commented in an undertone that the music was really not very good.
The play is a comedy with dark undertones.
The fabric is a rich brown color with undertones of red.
Recent Examples on the Web
This bottle is everything a Vermentino should be; herbal yet laced with floral undertones and decidedly fresh on the finish.
—
Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Unlike the liquid, which has a lightly sour flavor, the powder form is dominantly savory, with a cheesy undertone.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 May 2025
The rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark has been shrouded by racial undertones dating back to their days as college basketball stars, with Reese leading the LSU Tigers to a win over Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 28 May 2025
But then there’s an undertone of a character who feels detached from what’s happening in the country.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for undertone
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Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Unlike the liquid, which has a lightly sour flavor, the powder form is dominantly savory, with a cheesy undertone.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 May 2025
The rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark has been shrouded by racial undertones dating back to their days as college basketball stars, with Reese leading the LSU Tigers to a win over Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 28 May 2025
But then there’s an undertone of a character who feels detached from what’s happening in the country.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for undertone
Cite this Entry
“Undertone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undertone. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
undertone
noun
un·der·tone
ˈən-dər-ˌtōn
1
: a low or quiet tone
2
: a faint color as seen through and changing another color
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