If there is an undertow of a feeling, that feeling exists in such a weak form that you are hardly aware of it, but it influences the way you think or behave.
The existence of an emotional undertow is an aspect of all politics.
...an undertow of sadness. [+ of]
2. countable noun
An undertow is a strong current of water that is moving below the surface current and in a differentdirection to it.
Dangerous undertows make swimming unsafe along most of the coastline.
undertow in British English
(ˈʌndəˌtəʊ)
noun
1.
the seaward undercurrent following the breaking of a wave on the beach
2.
any strong undercurrent flowing in a different direction from the surface current
undertow in American English
(ˈʌndərˌtoʊ)
noun
a current of water moving beneath and in a different direction from that of the surfacewater
said esp. of a seaward current beneath breaking surf
Word origin
under- + tow1
Examples of 'undertow' in a sentence
undertow
An undertow that would be random in its search for a scapegoat.
Robert Wilson THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)
Already the sea was breaking up the wooden cases, the undertow dragging the barbecue kits and sun-loungers into the deep water.
Ballard, J. G. RUSHING TO PARADISE (2002)
It was a nervous habit she had never seen in him, and Lena felt the guilt come back like a strong undertow, pulling her the wrong way.