undertow

There is an undertow of grimness to the story, one that could have dragged it under entirely if not for a hilariously absurd final scene.

This undertow, of violence and duplicitousness and frustration, paradoxically propels the book forward.

But life itself is messy and unceremonious; it cannot stop too long for death without losing itself to the undertow.

"All along the undertow is strengthening its hold," Cuomo sang.

Seven days after Flight 370 disappeared, the families of those on board are stuck in an undertow of uncertainty.

Given the frustration in the international community, Israel must reverse an undertow of isolation.

The tide was coming in strongly, and presently the fatal undertow would sweep him out to sea.

The reality of human progress never comes to the surface, it is a power in the deeps, an undertow.

Here the water is as brown as oatmeal, and the undertow sucks out the boat again.

What was a distant rumble soon became a near-by, long undertow of ominous sound.

The Captain dug his toes into the sand and braced himself as the undertow sucked back.