1
: relatively insensitive to differences in musical pitch
2
sometimes offensive
: having or showing an obtuse insensitivity or lack of perception particularly in matters of public sentiment, opinion, or taste see usage paragraph at deaf entry 1
tone deafness
noun
Examples of tone-deaf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a tone-deaf move by the Sox marketing department, José Canseco was invited to participate in a home run derby featuring former Sox players July 11 at Rate Field.
—
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
Some of his social media content was also tone-deaf, given Liverpool’s plight.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Again and again, Gabbard had shown herself tone-deaf in appealing to him.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026
Most smug articles and books that claim to provide quick fixes come off as tone-deaf or even counterproductive.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tone-deaf
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Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
Some of his social media content was also tone-deaf, given Liverpool’s plight.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Again and again, Gabbard had shown herself tone-deaf in appealing to him.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026
Most smug articles and books that claim to provide quick fixes come off as tone-deaf or even counterproductive.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tone-deaf
Cite this Entry
“Tone-deaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tone-deaf. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
tone-deaf
adjective
: relatively insensitive to differences in musical pitch
tone deafness
noun
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