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
His character, Eddie, leads the school’s Dungeons & Dragons group, sells drugs on the side, and becomes the prime suspect in a string of deaths that many Hawkins townspeople believe to have satanic undertones.
—
Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
But some of Wittenberg’s oneiric landscapes have darker undertones, of violence or worry.
—Grace Edquist, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025
All smoke and sweat, full of gospel phrasing and hip-hop undertones, Brown Sugar introduced D’Angelo as an emotive, smooth-talking vocalist, a thinking, feeling performer in the likeness of Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, and Curtis Mayfield without borrowing too heavily from any of them.
—Marcus J. Moore, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2025
Cypress captures the majesty of the tall evergreen, enriched with lush green undertones for depth.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undertone
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Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
But some of Wittenberg’s oneiric landscapes have darker undertones, of violence or worry.
—Grace Edquist, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025
All smoke and sweat, full of gospel phrasing and hip-hop undertones, Brown Sugar introduced D’Angelo as an emotive, smooth-talking vocalist, a thinking, feeling performer in the likeness of Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, and Curtis Mayfield without borrowing too heavily from any of them.
—Marcus J. Moore, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2025
Cypress captures the majesty of the tall evergreen, enriched with lush green undertones for depth.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 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 21 Oct. 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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