subtext
noun
the underlying or implicit meaning, as of a literary work.
subtextual
-
a word derived from
subtext.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Her faith is no facade, and it short-circuits the sort of subtextual psychological approach we might expect in a more typical bio-drama.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025
Criticism does little to weaken the subtextual conversation the movie is having with dominant and flawed definitions of masculinity right now, especially versions that declare empathy to be toxic and cast diversity as weakness.
From Salon ● Nov. 12, 2025
Mark Ronson: What we need is a song about a poseable plastic toy with subtextual references to the dehumanising effects of fame.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2023
Locating an ideal balance between impeccable mimicry and her own personal experience as a much-hounded celebrity, Stewart turns even her own counterintuitive casting into a subtextual weapon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2021
On a more subtextual level, it could refer to the unspoken tensions that underlie their brief, emotionally strained interactions.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 28, 2021
