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.
Untuneful Synonyms
cacophonous discordant dissonant grating harsh jarring raucous tuneless unmelodiousUntuneful Antonyms
euphonious harmonious mellifluous melodious musical pleasing sweet-sounding tunefulUntuneful Crossword Answers
8 Letters
TUNELESS
10 Letters
DISCORDANT
11 Letters
UNMELODIOUS