undertow
noun
un·der·tow
ˈən-dər-ˌtō 
1
: the current beneath the surface that sets seaward or along the beach when waves are breaking upon the shore
2
: an underlying current, force, or tendency that is in opposition to what is apparent
Examples of undertow in a Sentence
Don't get caught in the undertow.
Recent Examples on the Web
This 100% Chenin from Minus Tide, made from old-vine grapes, offers a tinge of honey on the nose with wild and savory herbs in the undertow.
—
Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Out on Astralwerks, the song’s bouncy, singsong vibe juxtaposes with kind of bittersweet lyrics, with the theme also reflected in the track’s undertow of a bassline.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2025
An undertow of sadness churns beneath the slapstick, a combination that inescapably brings to mind Karen Russell, whose 2011 Swamplandia!
—Sam Worley, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
The novel is dense and elliptical, a dreamscape with a powerful undertow.
—Katie Kitamura, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
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Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Out on Astralwerks, the song’s bouncy, singsong vibe juxtaposes with kind of bittersweet lyrics, with the theme also reflected in the track’s undertow of a bassline.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2025
An undertow of sadness churns beneath the slapstick, a combination that inescapably brings to mind Karen Russell, whose 2011 Swamplandia!
—Sam Worley, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
The novel is dense and elliptical, a dreamscape with a powerful undertow.
—Katie Kitamura, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for undertow
Cite this Entry
“Undertow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undertow. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
undertow
noun
un·der·tow
ˈən-dər-ˌtō
: a current beneath the surface of the water that moves away from or along the shore while the surface water above it moves toward the shore
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