What is another word for tuneless?

Pronunciation: [tjˈuːnləs] (IPA)

Tuneless refers to music that is off-key, monotonous, or unpleasant to the ear. There are several synonyms that can be used in place of the term tuneless such as off-pitch, unmelodious, discordant, dissonant, raucous, jarring, harsh, and cacophonous. These words are often used to describe music or singing that is not pleasing to the listener. Other descriptors may include grating, scratchy, or shrill. If you are writing about music or sound, using these synonyms for tuneless can help to convey your message more effectively and paint a more vivid picture in the reader's mind.

What are the opposite words for tuneless?

Tuneless means lacking melody, off-pitch or discordant. The antonyms for tuneless are melodic, harmonious, rhythmic, resonant and musical. Melodic refers to sounds that have a pleasant melody or tune, producing a harmony that is pleasing to the ear. Harmonious means a pleasant blend of sounds that do not clash with one another, but rather flow together smoothly. Rhythmic refers to sounds that are produced in a specific pattern or tempo and create a sense of musicality. Resonant denotes the production of rich, deep and full sounds. Musical, on the other hand, means having a talent for, or an appreciation of music.

Usage examples for Tuneless

It is a kind of long-drawn wail, very monotonous and tuneless to European ears.
"Peeps at Many Lands: Japan"
John Finnemore
Before they had done dodging and while he yet grinned, a chant began-ghastly-tuneless-so out of time that the words were not intelligible-yet so obvious in general meaning that nobody could hear it and not understand.
"King--of the Khyber Rifles"
Talbot Mundy
Somebody was singing-or rather chanting-a singularly tuneless refrain, wild and barbaric.
"The Valley of the Giants"
Peter B. Kyne

Famous quotes with Tuneless

  • In televisionland we are all sophisticated enough now to realize that every statistic has an equal and opposite statistic somewhere in the universe. It is not a candidate's favorite statistic per se that engages us, but the assurance with which he can use it. We are testing the candidates for self-confidence, for "Presidentiality" in statistical bombardment. It doesn't really matter if their statistics be homemade. What settles the business is the cool with which they are dropped. And so, as the second half hour treads the decimaled path toward the third hour, we become aware of being locked in a tacit conspiracy with the candidates. We know their statistics go to nothing of importance, and they know we know, and we know they know we know. There is total but unspoken agreement that the "debate," the arguments which are being mustered here, are of only the slightest importance. As in some primitive ritual, we all agree — candidates and onlookers — to pretend we are involved in a debate, although the real exercise is a test of style and manners. Which of the competitors can better execute the intricate maneuvers prescribed by a largely irrelevant ritual? This accounts for the curious lack of passion in both performers. Even when Ford accuses Carter of inconsistency, it is done in a flat, emotionless, game-playing style. The delivery has the tuneless ring of an old press release from the Republican National Committee. Just so, when Carter has an opportunity to set pulses pounding by denouncing the Nixon pardon, he dances delicately around the invitation like a maiden skirting a bog. We judge that both men judge us to be drained of desire for passion in public life, to be looking for Presidents who are cool and noninflammable. They present themselves as passionless technocrats using an English singularly devoid of poetry, metaphor and even coherent forthright declaration. Caught up in the conspiracy, we watch their coolness with fine technical understanding and, in the final half hour, begin asking each other for technical judgments. How well is Carter exploiting the event to improve our image of him? Is Ford's television manner sufficiently self-confident to make us sense him as "Presidential"? It is quite extraordinary. Here we are, fully aware that we are being manipulated by image projectionists, yet happily asking ourselves how obligingly we are submitting to the manipulation. It is as though a rat running a maze were more interested in the psychologist's charts on his behavior than in getting the cheese at the goal line.
    Russell Baker
  • The Italian Marxist composer (BBC2) proclaims the necessity for contemporary music to 'intervene' in something called 'the sonic reality of our time.' Apparently it should do this by being as tuneless as possible.
    Clive James
  • He rushed before them to the glittering space, And, with a strength that was but strong desire, Cried, "I am Jubal, I!.... I made the lyre!" The tones amid a lake of silence fell Broken and strained, as if a feeble bell Had tuneless pealed the triumph of a land To listening crowds in expectation spanned. Sudden came showers of laughter on that lake; They spread along the train from front to wake In one great storm of merriment, while he Shrank doubting whether he could Jubal be...
    George Eliot
  • Of all the clumsy, blundering, boggling, baboon-blooded stuff I ever saw on a human stage, that thing last night beat — as far as the acting and story went — and of all the affected, sapless, soulless, beginningless, endless, topless, bottomless, topsiturviest, tuneless and scrannelpipiest — tongs and boniest — doggerel of sounds I ever endured the deadliness of, that eternity of nothing was the deadliest, so far as the sound went. I never was so relieved, so far as I can remember in my life, by the stopping of any sound — not excepting railway whistles — as I was by the cessation of the cobbler’s bellowing.
    John Ruskin

Related words: tuneless guitar, tuneless voice, tuneless vocal, tuneless piano, tuneless violin

Related questions:

  • What does the word tuneless mean?
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