SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
overtone
noun
An additional suggestion or feeling accompanying the main meaning of words or an action.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Additional implied meaning
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topAn overtone accompanies the main message; nuance is a subtle distinction within meaning or expression.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See overtone in use
The polite refusal carried an overtone of irritation.
In a second scene, a traveler said the cafe had become much quieter since the manager's brother left, giving the remark an overtone of relief.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license