overtone
noun
over·tone
ˈō-vər-ˌtōn 
1
a
: one of the higher tones produced simultaneously with the fundamental and that with the fundamental comprise a complex musical tone : harmonic sense 1a
b
2
: the color of the light reflected (as by a paint)
3
: a secondary effect, quality, or meaning : suggestion, connotation
Examples of overtone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Still, Manhattan Councilwoman Gale Brewer, a Democrat who’s the chairwoman of the Council’s Oversight Committee, argued Chell appearing on overtly pro-Trump outlets takes on a potentially problematic political overtone.
—
Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 23 July 2025
Rooms are decorated with midcentury-modern overtones, quirky art like Owen Marshall’s Unremarkable Staircase text installations in stairwells, and custom platform beds.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, AFAR Media, 16 July 2025
Cena skillfully avoids playing him with any real-life political overtones.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
And this blockbuster succeeded in taking a nifty sci-fi fairy tale with Arthurian overtones and creating something magnificent and unforgettable.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 June 2025
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Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 23 July 2025
Rooms are decorated with midcentury-modern overtones, quirky art like Owen Marshall’s Unremarkable Staircase text installations in stairwells, and custom platform beds.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, AFAR Media, 16 July 2025
Cena skillfully avoids playing him with any real-life political overtones.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
And this blockbuster succeeded in taking a nifty sci-fi fairy tale with Arthurian overtones and creating something magnificent and unforgettable.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overtone
Cite this Entry
“Overtone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overtone. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overtone
noun
over·tone
-ˌtōn
1
: any of a series of higher tones related to and produced along with a base tone that make up the whole sound of a musical tone
2
: an accompanying result, quality, or meaning : suggestion
the words carried an overtone of menace
Medical Definition
overtone
noun
over·tone
ˈō-vər-ˌtōn
: one of the higher tones produced simultaneously with the fundamental and that with the fundamental comprise a complex musical tone
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