undertone

[uhn-der-tohn]

noun

1. a low or subdued tone.

   to speak in undertones.

2. an unobtrusive or background sound.

   an undertone of static from the receiver.

3. an underlying quality or element; undercurrent.

   There was an undertone of regret in his refusal.

4. a subdued color; a color modified by an underlying color.

undertone

/ ˈʌndəˌtəʊn /

noun

1. a quiet or hushed tone of voice

2. an underlying tone or suggestion in words or actions

   his offer has undertones of dishonesty

3. a pale or subdued colour

Word History and Origins

Origin of undertone¹

First recorded in 1800–10; under- + tone

Example Sentences

He had also made several statements over the years that were interpreted as having political undertones.

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This is the human cycle, a tale as old as time that takes on a grim new undertone in a time when matters feel very much life-or-death.

Read more on Salon

The state visit certainly seemed to have an undertone of the UK joining forces with the US in a long term AI tech battle with China.

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"It has a lot of threads around grief, as the boys lose their mum, and so there are some really serious undertones to it," Michelle says.

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“What’s fun about Laura’s perspective is Cherry seems completely unhinged and that there’s a real malevolent undertone to her behavior,” Cooke says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• connotation 
• overtone 
• tinge 
• undercurrent