undertone
noun
un·der·tone
ˈən-dər-ˌtōn 
1
: a low or subdued utterance or accompanying sound
2
: a quality (as of emotion) underlying the surface of an utterance or action
3
: a subdued color
specifically
: a color seen through and modifying another color
Examples of undertone in a Sentence
She commented in an undertone that the music was really not very good.
The play is a comedy with dark undertones.
The fabric is a rich brown color with undertones of red.
Recent Examples on the Web
Valspar's Degas Blue is an earthy hue with subtle green and gray undertones meant to pair well with Warm Eucalyptus.
—
Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
Medvedev is known for his sarcastic and at times biting humor on social media, often with dark undertones.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Raymond Saunders, whose coruscant mixed-media assemblages drew from a variety of movements but stood apart from all of them with their burning sociopolitical undertones, died of pneumonia on July 19 in Oakland, California.
—News Desk, Artforum, 30 July 2025
Alice in Borderland has emerged as a flagship title for Netflix’s Japanese content ambitions — a slick genre spectacle with philosophical undertones and a growing global fandom.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for undertone
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
Medvedev is known for his sarcastic and at times biting humor on social media, often with dark undertones.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Raymond Saunders, whose coruscant mixed-media assemblages drew from a variety of movements but stood apart from all of them with their burning sociopolitical undertones, died of pneumonia on July 19 in Oakland, California.
—News Desk, Artforum, 30 July 2025
Alice in Borderland has emerged as a flagship title for Netflix’s Japanese content ambitions — a slick genre spectacle with philosophical undertones and a growing global fandom.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for undertone
Cite this Entry
“Undertone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undertone. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
undertone
noun
un·der·tone
ˈən-dər-ˌtōn
1
: a low or quiet tone
2
: a faint color as seen through and changing another color
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share