undertone
Americannoun
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a low or subdued tone.
to speak in undertones.
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an unobtrusive or background sound.
an undertone of static from the receiver.
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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
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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.
The brown butter lends a nutty undertone and caramel depth, a quiet bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check.
From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026
In the history of Musk, meanwhile, an odd undertone entered the conversation this week.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026
When Nacua was informed of the undertone of the celebration he practiced with Ross, he apologized.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025
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
The air is filled with the scents of corn popping, peanuts roasting, and the tangy undertone of animal.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
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.
