off-key
adjective or adverb
Examples of off-key in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nilsson’s watercolors complemented the work of the Hairy Who while also being slightly off-key; imagine the same hectic ragtime played on a calliope instead of a piano.
—
Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
That game became a cult hit for its hilarious simulations of everyday life, complete with Miis singing off-key, forming odd relationships and generating endless memes.
—Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2026
His swan song was often off-key.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Warming up, Smith throws back his head and belts Bieber lyrics, joyfully off-key.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Gran’s butter yellow Cadillac was a welcome surprise in the school carpool line, her slightly off-key singing voice kept me entertained in the church pews on Sunday morning, and her dining room table was the joyful location of many family celebrations.
—Brennan Long, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2025
Additionally, Sanville and Freeman’s co-mingling vocals were, depending on the moment, complementary in their harmony or shredded in their screaming, without screeching into off-key territory.
—William Earl, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025
The parody came in a chaotic birthday party sketch where Carpenter and her friends told a story through intentionally off-key performances.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
The sketch centers on Kelsey (Chloe Fineman), whose affair with Domingo (Marcello Hernandez) is revealed to her husband, Matt (Andrew Dismukes), via a group of off-key girl friends.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2025
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Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
That game became a cult hit for its hilarious simulations of everyday life, complete with Miis singing off-key, forming odd relationships and generating endless memes.
—Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2026
His swan song was often off-key.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Warming up, Smith throws back his head and belts Bieber lyrics, joyfully off-key.
—Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
Gran’s butter yellow Cadillac was a welcome surprise in the school carpool line, her slightly off-key singing voice kept me entertained in the church pews on Sunday morning, and her dining room table was the joyful location of many family celebrations.
—Brennan Long, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2025
Additionally, Sanville and Freeman’s co-mingling vocals were, depending on the moment, complementary in their harmony or shredded in their screaming, without screeching into off-key territory.
—William Earl, Variety, 12 Nov. 2025
The parody came in a chaotic birthday party sketch where Carpenter and her friends told a story through intentionally off-key performances.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
The sketch centers on Kelsey (Chloe Fineman), whose affair with Domingo (Marcello Hernandez) is revealed to her husband, Matt (Andrew Dismukes), via a group of off-key girl friends.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-key. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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