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undertone

[uhn-der-tohn] / ˈʌn dərˌtoʊn /


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.

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The research service Citrini just authored a note sharing that upbeat undertone.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 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

And that adds a particularly tragic undertone to the coming persecution of the capital’s homeless people: Studies show that most homeless people were residents before they lost their homes.

From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2025

“Don’t worry about me,” said Sarai with feigned carelessness, but as she went out to the gallery she added, in an undertone only she could hear, “I don’t think we have to worry about forever.”

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

But the idea of then building an Ebola facility just for US citizens on Kenyan territory sparked fear, as well as anger at the colonial undertones.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

In hindsight, he said, the story of Rico, a teenager trying to measure up to the demands of fatherhood while being ill-equipped and lacking maturity to navigate the situation constructively, carried personal undertones.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

The image invokes a children’s coloring book with darker undertones, blending various cartoon and drawing styles to depict Adam and Eve in paradise.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2026

Co-written and directed by Rebecca Zlotowski with comic undertones, it’s a caper about an American therapist living in France who suspects she hasn’t been told the truth about a patient’s demise.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2025

Some chocolates have undertones of cherry or coffee or vanilla.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence


Vocabulary lists containing undertone

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