Undercurrent

usgb/ˈʌndərkɜːrənt/
noun

An unseen movement or tendency that is different from what is visible or understood.

Despite her cheerful personality, there was an undercurrent of sadness in her jokes.
Visual representation of "undercurrent" - An unseen movement or tendency that is different from what is visible or understood

Often appears as...

  • undercurrent of unease
  • undercurrent of tension
Definition 1 of 3
Visual representation of "undercurrent"
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Hidden Emotions

Use 'undercurrent' to describe feelings not visible on the surface, but influencing behavior subtly.

Illustration for Hidden Emotions
Amidst the laughter, there was an undercurrent of tension among them.
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Contrasting Appearance

'Undercurrent' implies a difference between what is shown and what is felt or intended.

Illustration for Contrasting Appearance
His smile didn't reach his eyes, revealing an undercurrent of sorrow.
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Nuanced Context

Look for subtle narrative cues to detect an 'undercurrent' in literature and speech.

Illustration for Nuanced Context
The dialogue was casual, but an undercurrent of urgency ran through it.
Visual representation of the word "Undercurrent"

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