WordValeundertone
an underlying quality or feeling
In more detail
1. (noun) a quiet voice or sound that is difficult to hear
2. (noun) a feeling or quality that is not expressed directly but is suggested or implied
Examples
- 1. She spoke in an undertone so others in the room wouldn't hear.
- 2. There was an undertone of anger in his polite response.
How to use undertone
Undertone is used to describe either a literal quiet sound or, more commonly, an implied emotional quality or subtle message beneath the surface of what is openly stated. It suggests something felt or sensed rather than directly expressed, often carrying negative or critical connotations. The second sense is more frequent in contemporary English.
Common phrases
- speak in undertones
- an undertone of sadness
- with an undertone of anger
- undertone of irony
- beneath the undertone
Synonyms
undercurrent · implication · hint · murmur · whisper
Opposites
overtone · explicit statement
Word family
undertone (noun) · undertoned (adjective, rare)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse undertone with overtone; undertones are implied/hidden qualities, while overtones are explicit or emphasized ones.
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