undertone
Americannoun
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a low or subdued tone.
to speak in undertones.
-
an unobtrusive or background sound.
an undertone of static from the receiver.
-
an underlying quality or element; undercurrent.
There was an undertone of regret in his refusal.
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a subdued color; a color modified by an underlying color.
noun
-
a quiet or hushed tone of voice
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an underlying tone or suggestion in words or actions
his offer has undertones of dishonesty
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a pale or subdued colour
Etymology
Origin of undertone
Explanation
An undertone is literally a muted tone of voice, but it can also refer to an unspoken, implied meaning or emotion: "I thought there were undertones of hostility in her supposed apology." An undertone is a muted color or sound, like the blue undertones in your new gray wallpaper or the undertones of murmured conversations in a busy restaurant. When someone speaks in an undertone, it means that they whisper or talk very softly. You might tell you sister about your dad's surprise party in an undertone, so he doesn't overhear. These days, the word is most commonly used to refer to a subtle or implied meaning in an utterance.
Vocabulary lists containing undertone
All My Sons
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The Greatest: Muhammad Ali
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Shane
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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.
In the history of Musk, meanwhile, an odd undertone entered the conversation this week.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026
And that adds a particularly tragic undertone to the coming persecution of the capital’s homeless people: Studies show that most homeless people were residents before they lost their homes.
From Slate • Aug. 13, 2025
But the graduation festivities at the school in Carson had an ominous undertone, as word had spread ahead of the event that U.S.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2025
The words of the first black man to play for the senior England team - Viv Anderson - have a steely, serious and thought-provoking undertone.
From BBC • Oct. 30, 2024
Lord Asriel moved closer to the wardrobe and spoke in an undertone.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
