How to Use undertone in a Sentence

undertone

noun
  • The fabric is a rich brown color with undertones of red.
  • The play is a comedy with dark undertones.
  • She commented in an undertone that the music was really not very good.
  • Look for a white with undertones of a color used in the room.
    Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2024
  • My undertones of the skin, too, mouth and cheek, were not at all rosy, but more plum.
    Ed Park, The New York Review of Books, 8 Apr. 2020
  • There's a nuance to black nail polish, and the proof is in the undertone.
    Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 13 Aug. 2021
  • The name evokes deep ocean waters; the hue is a deep blue with green undertones.
    Elizabeth Mayhew, Twin Cities, 6 July 2019
  • His dark skin gleamed with the steam rolling down behind him from the kitchen, the undertone as cool as a pearl.
    Seija Rankin, EW.com, 8 July 2020
  • Her rule of thumb: Stick with ocher and brown undertones.
    Kaylei Fear, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Oct. 2023
  • There’s a distinct whiskey undertone and the base note is oak.
    Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Nov. 2022
  • If a lighter shade is your goal, watch for green or gold undertones.
    Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2023
  • Thanks to gray-green undertones, instead of cool blue ones, there's a warmth to it.
    Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2024
  • In the night, a train’s rumbling is the only sound beyond the undertone of the current.
    Keith McCafferty, Field & Stream, 3 Mar. 2020
  • The mood is light, but there’s a somber undertone separate from the rain.
    Nadia Scharf, The Indianapolis Star, 29 June 2024
  • To balance the full look, bring in a white comforter with bright or warm undertones.
    Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2024
  • As a rule of thumb, the best way to choose the perfect orange for you is to pick one that matches your undertone.
    Patrice Grell Yursik, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2021
  • Toss in a couple of fresh chiles for an undertone of heat boosted by the fat from the coconut milk.
    Kristen Hartke, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2020
  • Seeing the paint color against the white of the poster board will help bring out nuanced undertones.
    Michelle Brunner, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2023
  • Here, a pale pink throw plays up the rosy undertones of the neutral walls and furniture.
    Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2023
  • There’s still a twangy undertone, though, in both the Music Row genesis of the songs and the lilt of the production.
    Natalie Weiner, Billboard, 19 Aug. 2021
  • And the taste: rich, smooth, with a slightly earthy undertone – fluffy but filling.
    Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Oct. 2021
  • Tangy undertones livened up a soup with fish, tomatoes and greens.
    Mike Sutter, ExpressNews.com, 5 Sep. 2019
  • There is an undertone of lament to a lot of the violent action.
    Mark Olsen Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2021
  • There are more than 40 shades in warm, cool, and neutral undertones.
    Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
  • Think of a sky blue, gray blue, an off-white with blue undertone and a deep navy in a matte finish.
    Chelsea Evers, Country Living, 19 Dec. 2019
  • The racial undertones of Gilbert’s letter were hard to ignore.
    Rohan Nadkarni, SI.com, 17 Sep. 2019
  • Butter yellow is the color of the season, and the ivory undertones look great on all skin tones.
    Holly Carter, Peoplemag, 15 July 2024
  • In Trump’s hands, the term also carries blood-and-soil undertones.
    Matt Ford, The New Republic, 26 Sep. 2019
  • The Bursera bipinnata tree resin is earthy with undertones of frankincense and a hint of sweetness.
    Paola Briseño-Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
  • Warm Neutrals For those who prefer less color in their home's palette, Kim recommends neutrals with a warm undertone.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'undertone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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