as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds
a very unmusical chorus of squawks from the angry ravens
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unmusical
Those songs remind Omara of real people and real events, political interludes whose senselessness and brutality have left unmusical lacunae in her life.
—
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2023
His parents were unmusical Russian-Jewish immigrants who ran various businesses with mixed success.
—The Economist, 3 Oct. 2019
Paradoxically, then, the man most involved in the development of the electric guitar was the unmusical Leo Fender.
—David Kirby, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2019
The controversy of Schoenberg’s serialist works—the overwhelming reaction to them as ugly, nightmarish, simply unmusical—shows how firmly tonality had come to condition habits of listening.
—Paul Grimstad, The New Republic, 21 June 2018
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2023
His parents were unmusical Russian-Jewish immigrants who ran various businesses with mixed success.
—The Economist, 3 Oct. 2019
Paradoxically, then, the man most involved in the development of the electric guitar was the unmusical Leo Fender.
—David Kirby, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2019
The controversy of Schoenberg’s serialist works—the overwhelming reaction to them as ugly, nightmarish, simply unmusical—shows how firmly tonality had come to condition habits of listening.
—Paul Grimstad, The New Republic, 21 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unmusical
Adjective
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Alecia lets out a shrill whistle and the shadowy figures of our campmates stand up around the fire, applauding.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
13 Nov. 2024
-
Like, watched it all the way through from the shrill opening filled with obnoxious kids to the leadenly staged slapstick climax?—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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If your exhaust fan is still noisy after cleaning, this could indicate loose screws or a problem with the motor.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2025
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If there’s a slightly noisier spot (or spots) in the apartment, that is another indicator of gaps that might allow smells to seep in and could benefit from sealant, says Arianna Deane, an architect and A+A+A cofounder.—
Diana Budds,
Architectural Digest,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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These songs all have a beautiful sadness to them and have a pop mentality, but there is always something dissonant or tense about them at times, musically.—
Liza Lentini,
SPIN,
17 Jan. 2025
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Relationships between objects are often obscure, dissonant.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
ARTnews.com,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Based on the negative reaction from the crowd, the CBS late night host acknowledged that unpleasant feelings abound.—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Jan. 2025
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While wildly unpleasant, most people affected with norovirus see their symptoms resolve within a few days, the Mayo Clinic says.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The singer and K-pop star’s look also featured small, subtle pieces of silver metallic hardware on the sleeve.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
21 Jan. 2025
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For her husband’s second inauguration in 1873, Julia wore a metallic ivory brocade dress trimmed with lace.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Setting Discordant Personal Goals A 2023 study published in Current Psychology finds that partners’ inharmonious goals can have detrimental effects on relationships.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
29 Mar. 2024
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For sixteen hours a week, Valentine hopes to share some melody in a place that, for some, can feel inharmonious.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
24 July 2021
Adjective
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But with the emergence of digital media, today's cacophonous environment features billions of podcasts, blogs, streaming channels, and social media influencer accounts that each cater to micro-viewerships with zero editorial oversight or accountability.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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There is a primordial quality to the woods that oscillates between cacophonous forest chatter and eerie silence in the space of a ridge or two.—
Laura Lancaster,
Outdoor Life,
2 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unmusical
Cite this Entry
“Unmusical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unmusical. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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