undertone
noun
un·der·tone
ˈən-dər-ˌtōn 
1
: a low or subdued utterance or accompanying sound
She commented in an undertone that the music was not very good.
2
: a quality (as of emotion) that is present but not clear or obvious
The play is a comedy with dark undertones.
—often used with ofThere was an undertone of fear in the city.
3
: a subdued color
specifically
: a color seen through and modifying another color
a shade of blue with gray undertones
4
: a secondary or underlying flavor or scent
coffee with undertones of chocolate
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 meeting also carried political undertones for both men.
—
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
The Benefits of Painting Every Surface White You’ve compared dozens of white paints, analyzed the sunlight in your living room, and studied everything there is to know about undertones and light reflective values.
—Emma Guillen, Southern Living, 18 Nov. 2025
This formula removes dull yellow undertones.
—Austen Tosone, Glamour, 17 Nov. 2025
The Oedipal undertone of Leonora’s explanation—that his room used to be a nursery—is more worrisome still.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undertone
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Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
The Benefits of Painting Every Surface White You’ve compared dozens of white paints, analyzed the sunlight in your living room, and studied everything there is to know about undertones and light reflective values.
—Emma Guillen, Southern Living, 18 Nov. 2025
This formula removes dull yellow undertones.
—Austen Tosone, Glamour, 17 Nov. 2025
The Oedipal undertone of Leonora’s explanation—that his room used to be a nursery—is more worrisome still.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 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 28 Nov. 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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