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 of

There 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

In Clint Eastwood's haunting neo-noir mystery, Penn is top-notch as a grieving father with some shady undertones. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026

The green has lots of blue undertones, adding a layer of vibrancy to the look. —Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026

Instead, opt for a beige with warm or neutral undertones. —Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026

The tone of the FDA's message, Chaccour says, carried with it a contemptuous and toxic undertone, which only helped to escalate the political tensions around ivermectin that continue to this day. —Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undertone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

Kids 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