undercurrent

noun

un·​der·​cur·​rent ˈən-dər-ˌkər-ənt 

-ˌkə-rənt

1

: a current below the upper currents or surface

2

: a hidden opinion, feeling, or tendency often contrary to the one publicly shown

undercurrent adjective

Examples of undercurrent in a Sentence

You could be pulled under water by the dangerous undercurrents.

Recent Examples on the Web

While this may sound like advice typically exchanged by adolescents, there's a darker undercurrent to looksmaxxing. —Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 4 Sep. 2025

The finish evokes white grapes smoked over a variety of fragrant wood planks, along with an undercurrent of malt that helps ground each taste back to the base spirit. —David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Tia Ray’s mesmerizing lower register and distinctive gritty vocal texture creates intense narrative drama with an undercurrent of danger. —Billboard China, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2025

Activating your ninth house of expansion and third house of immediate surroundings, this tricky opposition is quenching your desire for adventure while pulling you back into shady debates and undercurrents with people that surround you. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undercurrent

• countercurrent
• intercurrent
• overcurrent
• photocurrent
• concurrent
• decurrent
• noncurrent
• recurrent
• current

Kids Definition

undercurrent

noun

un·​der·​cur·​rent -ˌkər-ənt 

-ˌkə-rənt

1

: a current below the upper currents or surface

undercurrents of water

2

: a hidden current of opinion or feeling often different from the one openly shown