as in tuneless
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Recent Examples of atonal
Riley, a Northern California native, who has always exuded a Zen-like geniality, was part of a generation of young American composers who had turned away from audience-alienating atonal music, which had been proselytized by their teachers in the science-minded postwar academy.
—
William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
In fact, the entire film can't decide whether to embrace the silly or the serious — and yet somehow, that atonal balance works.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Gradually, the music mutates into something more alien: off-key chiming of a clock, percussive piano clanking and plucking, atonal saxophone solos that sound as if an instrument is being dropped.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
In this new narrative, the history of atonal music’s liberation from the constraints of conventional Western music begins not in Europe but in Mexico.
—Julie Walsh, Artforum, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for atonal
William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
In fact, the entire film can't decide whether to embrace the silly or the serious — and yet somehow, that atonal balance works.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Gradually, the music mutates into something more alien: off-key chiming of a clock, percussive piano clanking and plucking, atonal saxophone solos that sound as if an instrument is being dropped.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
In this new narrative, the history of atonal music’s liberation from the constraints of conventional Western music begins not in Europe but in Mexico.
—Julie Walsh, Artforum, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for atonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atonal
Adjective
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Her aesthetics and tuneless vocals left audiences in awe and laughter.—
Raquel Willis,
Time,
19 June 2025
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For the rest of us, a real musical comedy is a cause for celebration; most are either too tuneless to be musicals or too dull to be comedies.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
When Luna conjoins intense Pluto, our feelings about such shifts might burst out in unpleasant ways!—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Though a person infected with the virus may experience unpleasant symptoms, others may be asymptomatic and show no symptoms at all.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Like most who have their disagreements with Looney, the governor rarely finds Looney personally disagreeable.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
2 Feb. 2026
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Each time Trump changes the subject, the new subject somehow manages to be more disagreeable than the last.—
Matt K. Lewis,
Washington Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
Adjective
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The new model’s color options are also worth mentioning, with the Premium Super Lowpro Trainer introducing new metallic finishes and full-suede constructions to the on-trend look.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
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The sauce could take on a metallic taste or start to break down the seasoning on your skillet.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Authoritative, sonorous and compelling, his is the voice that persuaded millions that the Martians had landed in Grover’s Mills, New Jersey in The War of the Worlds.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
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The country twang of her Nashville origins has been replaced with sonorous synths, and in the case of Showgirl, a throwback to the retro electric guitar sound of her bestselling 2014 album 1989.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atonal. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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