undertone
noun
un·der·tone
ˈən-dər-ˌtōn 
1
: a low or subdued utterance or accompanying sound
She commented in an undertone that the music was not very good.
2
: a quality (as of emotion) that is present but not clear or obvious
The play is a comedy with dark undertones.
—often used with ofThere was an undertone of fear in the city.
3
: a subdued color
specifically
: a color seen through and modifying another color
a shade of blue with gray undertones
4
: a secondary or underlying flavor or scent
coffee with undertones of chocolate
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
To find the most flattering shade of red polish for your skin tone, take your undertones into account.
—
Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
The accuracy rate worsens significantly when people are shown content with political undertones — because then confirmation bias kicks in.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
Jamison recommends accent colors instead of stark white to evoke warmth, personality, and a natural connection using materials with organic undertones.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
In addition to hardware and fixtures, look for countertop accessories that embrace these textures, materials, and warm undertones.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Undertone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undertone. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Kids 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
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