Meaning & use
undertow
A strong underwater current moving away from shore, beneath waves flowing in the opposite direction.
See it in a sentence
Lifeguards closed the beach after several swimmers were caught in a dangerous undertow.
A powerful undertow can pull even strong swimmers out to sea in seconds.
A note on using this word
Figuratively, undertow can describe a hidden, powerful force pulling events or emotions in an unexpected direction.
Words with a similar meaning
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