undertow

Plural: undertows

Noun

• A strong current flowing seaward beneath the surface of waves.
• an inclination contrary to the strongest or prevailing feeling
  • "his account had a poignant undertow of regret"
• the seaward undercurrent created after waves have broken on the shore
• A short-range flow of water returning seaward from the waves breaking on the shore.
• A feeling that runs contrary to one's normal one.

Verb

• To pull or tow under; drag beneath; pull down.
• To pull down by, or as by, an undertow.
• To flow or behave as an undertow.

Examples

• A strong undertow may sweep a returning swimmer off their feet but it does not carry them far from the shore.
• The undertow of a losing Scrabble game can be hard to escape, pulling your score down.

Synonyms

sea purse, sea puss, sea-poose, sea-purse, sea-puss

Related Words

rip current, riptide, undersuck