underlying

adjective

1 he took issue with the underlying aims of the research:

fundamental, basic, basal, primary, prime, first, cardinal, central, principal, chief, key, elementary, elemental, rudimentary, root, intrinsic, essential.

▷antonyms subordinate.

2 she spoke airily despite an underlying feeling of irritation:

latent, lurking, repressed, suppressed, unrevealed, undisclosed, unexpressed, undivulged, concealed, hidden, veiled, masked, shrouded, under wraps.

▷antonyms overt.

underlying Oxford Dictionary of English