off-key
adjective or adverb
Examples of off-key in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Millions of viewers have watched Ballinger’s portrayal of the overconfident, judgmental performer who sings off-key covers and complains about her creepy uncle.
—
Samantha Chery, Washington Post, 12 July 2023
The Republican crowd, notably, did not applaud that off-key remark, which came only months after Ms. Reynolds had romped to re-election, carrying 95 of the state’s 99 counties.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 8 July 2023
The video shows Ballinger, who is known for her satirical online persona, Miranda Sings, in a black leotard singing off-key to the song while awkwardly dancing barefoot onstage with two backup singers.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 6 July 2023
The Mother Superior is dubious about Deloris but eventually enlists her to train the convent’s comically off-key choir.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Apr. 2023
Samantha Chery, Washington Post, 12 July 2023
The Republican crowd, notably, did not applaud that off-key remark, which came only months after Ms. Reynolds had romped to re-election, carrying 95 of the state’s 99 counties.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 8 July 2023
The video shows Ballinger, who is known for her satirical online persona, Miranda Sings, in a black leotard singing off-key to the song while awkwardly dancing barefoot onstage with two backup singers.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 6 July 2023
The Mother Superior is dubious about Deloris but eventually enlists her to train the convent’s comically off-key choir.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'off-key.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near off-key
Cite this Entry
“Off-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-key. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
off-key
adjective or adverbˈȯf-ˈkē
: above or below the proper tone of a melody
singing off-key
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