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
Adams is known for his controversial political commentary on social media, drawing attention for his misogynistic undertones.
—
Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 10 July 2025
Rampur Select is floral and fruity, with notes of ripe apple, apricot, and honey, along with subtle floral undertones.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Shade Peachy, Brown’s favorite inspired by her peach color corrector, offsets the white cast on light-medium to medium skin tones; as does Sandy which skews a bit more yellow, great for someone with more red undertones.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 July 2025
Dazzle and Flicker are the only shades with blue undertones, while Beam and Glimmer boast warm pink and rose gold hues.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 8 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.
Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 10 July 2025
Rampur Select is floral and fruity, with notes of ripe apple, apricot, and honey, along with subtle floral undertones.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Shade Peachy, Brown’s favorite inspired by her peach color corrector, offsets the white cast on light-medium to medium skin tones; as does Sandy which skews a bit more yellow, great for someone with more red undertones.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 July 2025
Dazzle and Flicker are the only shades with blue undertones, while Beam and Glimmer boast warm pink and rose gold hues.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 8 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 20 Jul. 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