1. relating to or involving subtext; having an underlying or implicit meaning beneath the surface
Usage: literary criticism; communication analysis

Examples

• The play’s subtextual themes of power and corruption were evident to careful readers.
• Her subtextual criticism of the policy was clear despite her diplomatic language.
• The film’s subtextual commentary on social inequality resonated with audiences.
• Students analyzed the subtextual elements in the novel’s dialogue.
• The subtextual tension between the characters drove the narrative forward.
• Critics praised the subtextual layers of meaning in the artist’s work.