atonal
adjective
aton·al
(ˌ)ā-ˈtō-nᵊl 
(ˌ)a-
: marked by avoidance of traditional musical tonality
especially
: organized without reference to key or tonal center and using the tones of the chromatic scale impartially
Examples of atonal in a Sentence
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Riley, a Northern California native, who has always exuded a Zen-like geniality, was part of a generation of young American composers who had turned away from audience-alienating atonal music, which had been proselytized by their teachers in the science-minded postwar academy.
—
William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
In fact, the entire film can't decide whether to embrace the silly or the serious — and yet somehow, that atonal balance works.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Gradually, the music mutates into something more alien: off-key chiming of a clock, percussive piano clanking and plucking, atonal saxophone solos that sound as if an instrument is being dropped.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Right from the start, there’s a neo-noir like feel to Gerster’s suspenseful portrait, accentuated by its atonal and slightly disconcerting score.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atonal
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William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
In fact, the entire film can't decide whether to embrace the silly or the serious — and yet somehow, that atonal balance works.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Gradually, the music mutates into something more alien: off-key chiming of a clock, percussive piano clanking and plucking, atonal saxophone solos that sound as if an instrument is being dropped.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Right from the start, there’s a neo-noir like feel to Gerster’s suspenseful portrait, accentuated by its atonal and slightly disconcerting score.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atonal
Cite this Entry
“Atonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atonal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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atonal
adjective
aton·al
(ˈ)ā-ˈtōn-əl
(ˈ)a-
: being music written without traditional organization based on a scale
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