unmusical

adjective

ˌən-ˈmyü-zi-kəl How to pronounce unmusical (audio)
Definition of unmusicalnext
as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds a very unmusical chorus of squawks from the angry ravens

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unmusical Those songs remind Omara of real people and real events, political interludes whose senselessness and brutality have left unmusical lacunae in her life. — Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2023 His parents were unmusical Russian-Jewish immigrants who ran various businesses with mixed success. — The Economist, 3 Oct. 2019 Paradoxically, then, the man most involved in the development of the electric guitar was the unmusical Leo Fender. — David Kirby, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2019 The controversy of Schoenberg’s serialist works—the overwhelming reaction to them as ugly, nightmarish, simply unmusical—shows how firmly tonality had come to condition habits of listening. — Paul Grimstad, The New Republic, 21 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unmusical
  1. shrill
  2. noisy
  3. dissonant
  4. unpleasant
  5. metallic
  6. inharmonious
  7. cacophonous
Adjective
  • On shrill winter nights, Moscow’s power is conspicuous, its Orthodox cathedrals and Stalinist high-rises illuminated, though the view falls dim in the autumn and spring, shrouded in sheets of greige.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The chaos is still an acceptable price to pay for Birney’s expertly offputting performance, a shrill mania that gets increasingly comic over time.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of shrill
Adjective
  • The next report could produce a noisy response once again so we’re focused on the levels.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 9 July 2026
  • The second version of his hearing aid aimed to amplify the sound of a specific person’s voice in a conversation in a noisy environment.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Definition of noisy
Adjective
  • At the track’s apex Korten explodes in and out of dissonant broken chords against Mark Shim’s angular saxophone lines, an unexpected development that sneaks up on you thanks to Sorey’s sticky, slowly evolving drumming.
    — Rae-Aila Crumble, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026
  • This is reminding me of watching Slint play a reunion show in 2014 under the I-65 highway at a festival in Louisville, and how simultaneously awesome and cognitively dissonant that experience was.
    — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 June 2026
Definition of dissonant
Adjective
  • Still, some unpleasant times may loom for the entities that depend on property tax revenue.
    — George Avalos, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • Taking the time to clean vent covers also prevents buildup that can lead to unpleasant odors, extra noise, or premature wear on your heating and cooling system.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
Definition of unpleasant
Adjective
  • The jersey’s circular motif was also directly inspired by Magritte’s La Voix des airs (Voice of Space, 1931), which depicts metallic spheres floating in a clear blue sky over a grassy landscape.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026
  • This accumulation of electrons reduces the charge on nearby lithium ions, directly forcing them to solidify into battery-killing metallic dendrites.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
Definition of metallic
Adjective
  • We are made loving, good, and pure – entirely free from any inharmonious tendency.
    — Margaret Rogers, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Setting Discordant Personal Goals A 2023 study published in Current Psychology finds that partners’ inharmonious goals can have detrimental effects on relationships.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Definition of inharmonious
Adjective
  • In its cacophonous surroundings, the White House stood serene.
    — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • In the black and Carrara marble lobby, the vibe is modern and futuristic, with a cacophonous waterfall tumbling down the walls in a stream of fluorescent colors and a lone scarlet grand piano bringing a pleasing pop of color.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
Definition of cacophonous

Browse Nearby Words

unmuffling
unmusical
unnamed
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Cite this Entry

“Unmusical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unmusical. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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