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
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The discord between Smith and Beadle dates back to their days working together at ESPN, with the two clashing over Smith’s comments regarding former NFL star Ray Rice’s domestic assault of his wife, which Beadle publicly deemed as tone-deaf and insensitive.
—
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Nov. 2025
To file a lawsuit right now makes the owner look tone-deaf, and blind.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Nov. 2025
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
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Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Nov. 2025
To file a lawsuit right now makes the owner look tone-deaf, and blind.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Nov. 2025
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
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 18 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
tone-deaf
adjective
: relatively insensitive to differences in musical pitch
tone deafness
noun
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