undercurrent

noun

un·der·cur·rent | \ ˈən-dər-ˌkər-ənt

, -ˌkə-rənt\

Definition of undercurrent

1 : a current below the upper currents or surface

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

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Examples of undercurrent in a Sentence

You could be pulled under water by the dangerous undercurrents.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are at least two reasons for the dark emotional undercurrent of much of this music, each quite clear in Davis’ mind. — Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, "Saxophonist Caroline Davis goes deep with 'Heart Tonic'," 19 Apr. 2018 An undercurrent of sleek sophistication permeates the space and its menus. — Andrea Bennett, Condé Nast Traveler, "3 Best Day Trips from Las Vegas," 5 Mar. 2018 Over time, the pianist may make more of the emotional undercurrents in the piece, or bring more exuberance to the final Allegro. — Barbara Jepson, WSJ, "A Master of the Virtuosic Miniature in New York," 24 Jan. 2019 The streets where Elena and Lila play and the shops where their parents buy food are controlled by small-time criminals, and their power struggles are a constant undercurrent in both the show and books. — Anna North, Vox, "My Brilliant Friend pulls back the curtain on women’s lives. What it reveals is dark and violent.," 20 Nov. 2018 Blondes, in particular, tread a nuanced line—aiming for a certain Bond girl tawniness while retaining a spiritual undercurrent of sunniness. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "Behati Prinsloo Has the Perfect Shade of Victoria's Secret Blonde for Next Week's Show," 31 Oct. 2018 The lack of new jobs has driven a powerful undercurrent of pessimism among young Tunisians. — Jared Malsin, WSJ, "Nation That Sparked Arab Spring Finds Itself a Springboard for Illegal Migration," 27 Aug. 2018 But the year’s big events were parts of much more fundamental forces: deep social and political undercurrents that are profoundly changing 21st-century American society. — Zack Beauchamp, Vox, "The 9 thinkers who made sense of 2018’s chaos," 27 Dec. 2018 A week ago, there was an undercurrent of self-deprecation and defensiveness in the Russian fan mood. — Washington Post, "Russian fans celebrate once-maligned team as heroes," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'undercurrent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.