Meaning & use
subtext
Last updated
An underlying meaning or theme that is implied rather than stated directly.
See it in a sentence
There was a clear subtext of jealousy beneath her polite compliments.
The director said the film's real subtext was about grief, not war.
A note on using this word
Common in discussions of literature, film, and conversation, where the real meaning isn't spoken outright.
Words with a similar meaning
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