Sample Sentences for
undertone
grouped by contextual meaning
(editor-reviewed)

undertone as in:  a subtle undertone

Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    I think I detected an undertone of fear.
    undertone = less obvious characteristic
  • •
    An undertone of disrespect slipped through.
    undertone = subtle characteristic
  • •
    An undertone of sarcasm and self-parody help make the series popular.
    undertone = less obvious characteristic
▲ show less (of above)
Show 10 more with 2 word variations
  • •
    Gurney accepted the bundle, puzzled by the hard undertones in this conversation.†  (source)
  • •
    His invitation might have passed as casual, were it not for the undertone.  (source)
    undertone = underlying quality
  • •
    I hear the undertones now that shimmer under the surface of the words right and wrong.†  (source)
  • •
    PROCTOR, with a violent undertone: You doubt me yet?  (source)
    undertone = expression in tone-of-voice
  • •
    The undertones in Reyna's voice took Annabeth a moment to decipher.†  (source)
  • •
    Despite the steady musical undertone in his speaking voice Finny couldn't carry a tune, and he couldn't remember the melody or the words to any song.  (source)
    undertone = underlying quality
  • •
    The interdiction field added its sonic undertones to the sudden silence.†  (source)
  • •
    He puts his jacket around her shoulders. Old tweed, old tobacco, a singed odour. An undertone of salt.  (source)
    undertone = subtle trace
  • •
    Over it was thrown an unfamiliar tan suede jacket that brought out the gold undertones to his skin.†  (source)
  • •
    The deep sea breaking miles away on the reef made an undertone less perceptible than the susurration of the blood.  (source)
    undertone = soft sound
▲ show less (of above)

undertone as in:  said in an undertone

•
They spoke in undertones.
undertones = quiet voices
Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    She muttered something in an undertone too low for me to hear.
    undertone = quiet voice
  • •
    "Ginny," said Ron in an undertone to Harry.  (source)
    undertone = a very quiet or hushed voice
  • •
    "Well," I qualified in an undertone, "he really is Madame Chiang Kai-shek."  (source)
    undertone = quiet voice
▲ show less (of above)
Show 10 more
  • •
    The two speak together in an undertone.  (source)
    undertone = a very quiet or hushed voice
  • •
    "Thou art the master," said Bagheera in an undertone.  (source)
    undertone = quiet voice
  • •
    As I stood behind the table, Reenie in an undertone retailed the latest news.  (source)
  • •
    Stilgar's voice lost some of its subtle undertone of reasoning, took on an edge of bitterness.†  (source)
  • •
    "You're humming again," Seivarden said in an undertone.†  (source)
  • •
    "It's Xandra with an X," she said in a gravelly undertone.†  (source)
  • •
    A deep bass voice tried calming her, in an undertone.†  (source)
  • •
    A sweet smell with a bitter undertone, rich and evocative.†  (source)
  • •
    "Steady now," said Rhonda in an undertone.†  (source)
  • •
    There was an undertone to her voice, shadowed and tense, that made Clary's nerves spark.†  (source)
▲ show less (of above)