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.
And when I spoke to Bisognano the day of the Virginia referendum, there was a lightly apologetic undertone to the conversation.
From Slate • Apr. 22, 2026
In the history of Musk, meanwhile, an odd undertone entered the conversation this week.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026
"There was a sinister undertone and it was difficult to build rapport," she wrote in a statement.
From BBC • Oct. 23, 2025
She continues: “The almonds add a touch of sweetness that helps cut through some of the heat from the chiles, while the peanuts add a buttery undertone to the dish.”
From Salon • Mar. 31, 2025
With the new spring he felt an undertone of trouble.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
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.
