undercurrent

About 0.56 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A current of water which flows under the surface, and often in a different direction from surface currents.
2. noun A tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed rather than exposed.

   The meeting was pervaded with an undercurrent of dread, as the managers tried not to admit that firings were looming.

3. verb To flow under some surface.

Similar words

undertide undertone groundswell backdrop implication background underswell understream subcurrent underwater

Often followed by

of in to that is which and was throughout

Word family

undercurrents