lurking · buried · undercurrent · secret · subtext · iceberg · murky · deep · unspoken · latent · underwater · below · covert · simmering · veiled · subconscious · suppressed · diving
under the surfaceon the surface
In apparent aspect only
in plain sight · out in the open · visible · exposed · on display
IDEA.org / Words / under the surface
Related — beneath (In a lower position); hidden (Kept out of sight); submerged (Below water's surface); depths · concealed · lurking · buried · undercurrent · secret · subtext · iceberg · murky · deep
visibility/exposureunder the surface ≠ on the surface In apparent aspect only; in plain sight · out in the open · visible · exposed · on display
obviousness/transparencyunder the surface ≠ obvious Easily perceived, unmistakable; explicit · transparent · blatant · clear · plain
depth of awarenessunder the surface ≠ obvious Easily perceived, unmistakable; apparent · overt · explicit · manifest · evident
Word data: Linguabase (CC0) · www.idea.org/words/under_the_surface