OFF-KEY Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

off-key

adjective

Definition of off-key

as in tuneless

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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 off-key By 1988, when Phantom debuted on Broadway, the Reagan-era consumer culture and flashy opulence were on their way out, so the ornate, maximalist sets and the lush orchestrations felt off-key to reviewers. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 20 Aug. 2026 Nobody wants to be subjected to one more triggering, off-key note of an Edwin Díaz dirge. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Should you ever get distracted by such off-key turns, however, the film is quick to directly remind you which other movies it’s supposed to remind you of. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 June 2026 Nilsson’s watercolors complemented the work of the Hairy Who while also being slightly off-key; imagine the same hectic ragtime played on a calliope instead of a piano. — Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026 That game became a cult hit for its hilarious simulations of everyday life, complete with Miis singing off-key, forming odd relationships and generating endless memes. — Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2026 His swan song was often off-key. — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026 With proper training, employees learned to spot telltale signs like off-key speech or conflicting information. — Steve Piper, Forbes.com, 18 Feb. 2026 Warming up, Smith throws back his head and belts Bieber lyrics, joyfully off-key. — Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-key

Adjective

Her aesthetics and tuneless vocals left audiences in awe and laughter.

— Raquel Willis, Time, 19 June 2025
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

Definition of tuneless

Adjective

Today composers often combine tonal and atonal elements, using atonality to create feelings of uncertainty, psychological tension, or dramatic intensity.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
There are atonal jabs, and there are jazz flourishes, and there’s kind of a deeply romantic strain running through it as well.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 29 July 2026

Definition of atonal

Adjective

Activewear After sweating it out in your beloved activewear, avoid using the hotter temperatures in the washing machine to sanitize and remove unpleasant odors.

— Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026
The mediocre screen was an unpleasant surprise given that this thing advertised 100 percent sRGB gamut coverage when it was announced and on its product page for many weeks (the Internet Archive captures it here).

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of unpleasant

Adjective

Mistaking being disagreeable with the act of disagreeing is common - especially in unsafe psychological workplaces.

— Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
There are also a lot of people who have never dreamed of being disagreeable in public, much less considered joining a raucous social movement.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026

Definition of disagreeable

Browse Nearby Words

offish

off-key

off-kilter

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“Off-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-key. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of off-key

adjective

Example Sentences

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