tuneless

/'tju:nlis/

Thân thiện

She hummed a tuneless melody while working.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not having a musical sound or pleasing tune: Describes a sound, especially music or singing, that is not melodious, harmonious, or pleasant to listen to.

Usage

• The adjective "tuneless" is used to describe sounds, typically music, singing, or humming, that lack melody or harmony. It often carries a negative connotation, implying the sound is unpleasant or poorly performed.
• It is commonly used before a noun (e.g., a tuneless whistle) or after a linking verb like "be" or "sound" (e.g., His singing was tuneless).

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The child's tuneless humming was distracting.
  • He played a tuneless version of the national anthem on the old piano.
  • The band's performance was loud and tuneless.

Advanced Usage

• "Tunelessly" (Adverb): In a manner that is not melodious.
  • She sang tunelessly along with the radio.
• "Tunelessness" (Noun): The quality or state of being tuneless.
  • The sheer tunelessness of the choir's performance was surprising.

Variants and Related Words

• Unmelodious (adj): Not melodious; harsh-sounding. (A more formal synonym)
• Discordant (adj): Lacking harmony or agreement in sound; clashing. (Often implies a conflict between sounds)
• Atonal (adj): Music that lacks a tonal center or key. (A specific technical term in music theory)

Synonyms

• Unmusical
• Cacophonous (implies a harsh, jarring mixture of sounds)
• Dissonant

Antonyms

• Tuneful
• Melodious
• Harmonious
• Musical

Idioms and Phrases

• While there are no common idioms using the exact word "tuneless," the concept is often expressed in phrases like "deaf to melody" or "couldn't carry a tune in a bucket," which describe a person who sings very poorly.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not having a musical sound or pleasing tune

Từ đồng nghĩa

• untuneful
• unmelodious