undercurrent

[ uhn-der-kur-uhnt, -kuhr- ]

noun

1. a tendency underlying or at variance with the obvious or superficial significance of words, actions, etc.:

   Even in his friendliest remarks, one could sense an undercurrent of hostility.

2. a current, as of air or water, that flows below the upper currents or surface.

undercurrent

/ ˈʌndəˌkʌrənt /

noun

1. a current that is not apparent at the surface or lies beneath another current
2. an opinion, emotion, etc, lying beneath apparent feeling or meaning

Word History and Origins

Origin of undercurrent¹

First recorded in 1675–85; under- + current

Example Sentences

Even the most aggressive prosecution of some of the militia groups’ members won’t stamp out the extremist undercurrents which span dozens of loosely organized groups that mainly converge online.

From TIme

In the trailer to the new live-action film, de Vil once again embodies this undercurrent of madness.

From Washington Post

An undercurrent running through opposition to his nomination was Becerra’s leadership in recent years of a coalition of Democratic attorneys general fighting to preserve the ACA.

From Washington Post

A good example of that runs as an undercurrent through this article.

From Washington Post

That’s not a small consolation, especially considering there has been an undercurrent of worry here in Florida about whether Brady and Arians are meshing.

From Washington Post

His voice is quiet, melodic, and often tinged with an undercurrent of mirth.

From The Daily Beast

The religious undercurrent in soccer runs especially deep in World Cup years.

From The Daily Beast

“There is a serious undercurrent here,” said Gardner, between sips from her tumbler.

From The Daily Beast

The uproar shed light on the undercurrent of suspicion and distrust between the Obama and Clinton camps.

From The Daily Beast

This may account for the sociological undercurrent of his work.

From The Daily Beast

All through the sad duties of the next four days Felipe was conscious of the undercurrent of this premonition.

From Project Gutenberg

"You are singularly concerned in this man's life," said he, an odious undercurrent of meaning in his voice.

From Project Gutenberg

To tell you the truth, I have never put that undercurrent of consciousness into words until to-night.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a fizzle and a stick, he knew it, he knew nothing else, and there is an undercurrent of bitterness in him.

From Project Gutenberg

Jane discovered in Sophy and in Frances an undercurrent of positive affection that set from her child to her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• atmosphere
• aura
• crosscurrent
• feeling
• hint
• inclination
• indication
• intimation
• murmur
• overtone
• sense
• tinge
• undertone
• undertow

More About Undercurrent

What is an undercurrent?

An undercurrent is a flow of water or air that moves below the highest current or the surface.

Undercurrent is more often used figuratively to mean a tendency underlying or at odds with what’s on the surface, as in While the two candidates smiled and shook hands, everyone in the room could feel the undercurrent of aggression between them.

Example: The undercurrent at the beach today was so strong, I worried it was going to carry me out to sea!

Where does undercurrent come from?

The first records of the term undercurrent come from around 1675. It combines

the prefix under–, used to indicate place or situation below or beneath, and the term current, which describes a flow or stream. In most cases, water and wind currents flow with the warmest on top and coolest on the bottom. Because of this, an undercurrent is usually colder than those above it.

Undercurrents are often talked about in meteorology and oceanography. The undercurrent of a storm may cause a cold front to come in, for example. When used figuratively, an undercurrent refers to a true significance or meaning of words that differ from what they seem to mean. For example, two people could say that they want to be friends while the undercurrent to their words is to make a business deal.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for undercurrent?

• drift
• feeling
• hint
• pull
• undertone
• undertow

What are some words that share a root or word element with undercurrent? 

• current
• under

What are some words that often get used in discussing undercurrent?

• meaning
• movement
• hidden
• water
• wind

How is undercurrent used in real life?

Undercurrent is frequently used in its literal sense in discussions about water or weather. It is also often used figuratively, especially when the speaker thinks someone is hiding their true intentions.

I'm hooked on OZARK. There's an undercurrent of black humor running through it that makes it special.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 22, 2017

There's a constant undercurrent of fear that software innovation will eliminate jobs, but so far we have a 30-year industry track record of software being so ill-conceived that it winds up creating two new jobs for each one that it renders redundant.

— Justin Searls (@searls) February 11, 2019

Honestly there are a lot of journalists you can criticize for how they cover tech, but if you're going after @TaylorLorenz you're missing the mark. She's a professional, and great at her job. Really indicative of the undercurrent of misogyny that women face in this industry.

— 𝙅𝘼𝙈𝙀𝙎 𝙈𝘾𝙇𝙀𝙊𝘿 (@jamespmcleod) July 3, 2020

Try using undercurrent!

Is undercurrent used correctly in the following sentence?

Did I sense an undercurrent of disdain in his comments about inclusivity in the workplace?