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
The fragrance, which is infused with essential oils, is crafted with notes of crisp air, fresh laundry, and sweetened floral undertones.
—
Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
But, unsurprisingly, the nation’s most popular game of chance has a sinister undertone as major lotteries capitalize on people’s hopes and dangle the ever-elusive carrot of a jackpot over financially vulnerable Americans.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Bring in creams and whites for balance, sticking to colors that have slight gray-green undertones for a cohesive look.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2024
Several scenes have ominous undertones, and there’s fighting.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Thanks to gray-green undertones, instead of cool blue ones, there's a warmth to it.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2024
Food-safe dyes adhere to it easily, and are in fact amplified by the icing’s bright white undertones from the powdered sugar.
—Zoey Poll Katja Mayer, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
For me, Sayulita has always carried romantic undertones of faraway places and fleeting moments.
—Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2024
Look for shades with a warm tint and gray or brown undertones, which help tone down the brightness and offer a more refined effect.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024
Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
But, unsurprisingly, the nation’s most popular game of chance has a sinister undertone as major lotteries capitalize on people’s hopes and dangle the ever-elusive carrot of a jackpot over financially vulnerable Americans.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Bring in creams and whites for balance, sticking to colors that have slight gray-green undertones for a cohesive look.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2024
Several scenes have ominous undertones, and there’s fighting.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
Thanks to gray-green undertones, instead of cool blue ones, there's a warmth to it.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2024
Food-safe dyes adhere to it easily, and are in fact amplified by the icing’s bright white undertones from the powdered sugar.
—Zoey Poll Katja Mayer, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
For me, Sayulita has always carried romantic undertones of faraway places and fleeting moments.
—Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2024
Look for shades with a warm tint and gray or brown undertones, which help tone down the brightness and offer a more refined effect.
—Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'undertone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near undertone
Cite this Entry
“Undertone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undertone. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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