tone-deaf
/ˌtəʊn ˈdef/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌtəʊn ˈdef/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtōn-ˌdef How to pronounce tone-deaf (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tone-deaf — adjective
1. A tone-deaf person has difficulty telling one musical note from another and cann
A tone-deaf person has difficulty telling one musical note from another and cannot sing a melody at the right pitch.
Theo called himself tone-deaf after failing to hear the difference between two piano notes.
tone-deaf + can't tell the difference between notes
Karim remained tone-deaf after months of practice, unable to sing in key with the choir.
remain + tone-deaf (persistent condition)
A tone-deaf listener may enjoy a song's rhythm without noticing the wrong notes.
The vocal coach gently told Femi that he was not tone-deaf, just unpracticed.
Jiwoo loved to sing in the shower although her family teased her for being tone-deaf.
- unmusical
broader term for lacking musical ability; more formal and less specific than tone-deaf
- pitch-deaf
rarer synonym emphasising inability to discriminate pitch; more technical
- musical
having natural ability in music or a good ear for pitch
文法句型
be + tone-deaf
tone-deaf + noun
用法筆記
Usually used in predicative position ("He is tone-deaf") but also common attributively before nouns such as "singer" or "listener." The term describes a perceptual inability, not a physical hearing loss.
常見錯誤
2. Used to describe a remark, action, or decision that shows a person does not noti
Used to describe a remark, action, or decision that shows a person does not notice what other people are feeling or what a situation requires, making it seem inappropriate or unkind.
The minister's tone-deaf comments about job losses angered workers who had just been laid off.
tone-deaf + comments (attributive use for remarks)
Scheduling a luxury party after announcing pay cuts was a tone-deaf decision that hurt morale.
tone-deaf + decision (attributive use for actions)
Ava saw the hurt look on her friend's face and realised her joke was tone-deaf.
Critics called the movie's portrayal of poverty tone-deaf and out of touch with reality.
The mayor defended his tone-deaf remark, but the public had already turned on him.
- insensitive
broader term; can describe intentional or unintentional disregard, while tone-deaf implies unintentional cluelessness
- oblivious
focuses on not noticing the situation; less negative in connotation
- tactless
describes specifically what is said/done rather than the person's state of awareness
- perceptive
quick to notice and understand what a situation calls for
- sensitive
aware of and responsive to other people's feelings
文法句型
tone-deaf + noun
be + tone-deaf
用法筆記
Very common in attributive position before nouns like "remark," "comment," "decision," or "speech." Widely used in news and political commentary. The figurative meaning is distinct from its literal musical sense — the term criticises a failure of social awareness, not an ear for pitch.