Definition

Adjective 1. Not melodious; lacking a pleasant musical quality: Describes a sound, voice, or piece of music that is not harmonious, pleasant to hear, or in tune. It often implies a harsh, discordant, or unpleasant quality.

Usage

The adjective "untuneful" is used to describe sounds that are musically unpleasant. It is the direct opposite of "tuneful." It is a formal or literary word, more commonly replaced in everyday speech by synonyms like "discordant" or "unmelodious."

Examples

• The singer's untuneful voice made it difficult to enjoy the song.
• An untuneful chorus of car horns filled the busy intersection.
• The old piano was so out of tune that it produced only untuneful notes.

Advanced Usage

• Comparative and Superlative Forms: "untuneful" (base), "more untuneful" (comparative), "most untuneful" (superlative).
  • Of the two amateur bands, the first was the more untuneful.
• Adverbial Form: "untunefully."
  • The child sang untunefully but with great enthusiasm.

Variants and Related Words

• Tuneful (adj.): Having a pleasant tune; melodious. This is the direct antonym.
  • The tuneful melody was easy to remember.
• Tune (n.): A melody, especially one that characterizes a piece of music.
  • She hummed a familiar tune.

Synonyms

• Discordant: (of sounds) harsh and jarring because of a lack of harmony.
• Unmelodious: Not having a pleasing melody.
• Dissonant: Lacking harmony; clashing.
• Cacophonous: Involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
• Atonal: (Specifically in music) Not written in any key or mode; lacking a tonal center.

Antonyms

• Tuneful
• Melodious
• Harmonious
• Euphonious

Related Idioms or Phrases

• To be music to someone's ears: To be something very pleasant to hear. ("Untuneful" describes the opposite of this.)
  • The news of their safe return was music to our ears.

Adjective

1. not having a musical sound or pleasing tune