Untuneful

Untuneful describes something that lacks musical harmony, pleasing melody, or rhythmic correctness. It signifies a discordant or unmelodious quality in sound, often used to describe singing voices, musical instruments, or compositions that fail to meet expected standards of musical beauty. The word suggests a harshness, a lack of precision, or a general unpleasantness to the ear. It implies a disruption of the anticipated musical experience, whether due to poor technique, inappropriate intervals, or a fundamental lack of musical talent or structure. Think of the wail of a rusty gate, the screech of fingernails on a chalkboard, or the cacophony of poorly played instruments and you get the idea.

Untuneful meaning with examples

• The choir's opening hymn was marred by an untuneful soprano section that consistently missed the high notes, disrupting the otherwise harmonious sound and leaving a painful experience for the audience.
• The child's attempt to play the piano was endearing, but undeniably untuneful. Her clumsy fingers produced a series of clashing notes and jarring discords.
• The composer's latest work was critically panned as being untuneful, with critics lamenting its lack of melody and its reliance on dissonance to the point of musical irritation.
• The untuneful cries of the seagulls overhead were more unsettling than pleasant while the boat was rocking on the stormy sea.