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
Critics claim the ad is tone-deaf for mocking striking workers.
—
Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Many Democrats viewed the event as tone-deaf, given that millions of Americans were on the brink of hunger.
—Garrett Haake, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
The premise itself is tone-deaf, and it’s not helped by the way this show leans into the appropriation of Black beauty rather than questioning and challenging it.
—Jihan Forbes, Allure, 29 Oct. 2025
Many have accused me of being tone-deaf.
—Marc Brackett, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tone-deaf
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Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Many Democrats viewed the event as tone-deaf, given that millions of Americans were on the brink of hunger.
—Garrett Haake, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
The premise itself is tone-deaf, and it’s not helped by the way this show leans into the appropriation of Black beauty rather than questioning and challenging it.
—Jihan Forbes, Allure, 29 Oct. 2025
Many have accused me of being tone-deaf.
—Marc Brackett, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
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 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
tone-deaf
adjective
: relatively insensitive to differences in musical pitch
tone deafness
noun
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