unmusical

IPA/ˌʌnˈmjuːzɪkl/
IPA/ˌʌnˈmjuːzɪkl/

unmusical — adjective

  • unmusicalpositive
  • more unmusicalcomparative
  • most unmusicalsuperlative

1. describes a sound or combination of sounds that is harsh, jarring, and lacking t

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a sound or combination of sounds that is harsh, jarring, and lacking the qualities people associate with music — for example, the screech of a rusty gate or a badly tuned instrument.

Example

The sound of the old radiator was completely unmusical, a loud clanking noise.

adjective describing harsh mechanical sound

Tariro found the dog's howling so unmusical that she had to close all the windows.

Common collocations
  • unmusical noise
  • unmusical sound
  • unmusical voice
  • unmusical clatter
  • deeply unmusical
  • painfully unmusical
Synonyms
  • discordant

    suggests a clash of notes or sounds; slightly more technical

  • harsh

    broader, can describe any rough or grating sensation, not just sound

  • tuneless

    lacking a clear melody; specific to music-like sounds

  • cacophonous

    formal or literary; describes a loud, chaotic mix of sounds

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be + unmusical

find/consider + noun + unmusical

describe + noun + as + unmusical

Usage Note

Common with concrete nouns that refer to sounds (noise, voice, clatter, screech). The word contrasts with melodious or harmonious.

Common Mistakes

The cake tasted unmusical.
The cake tasted strange.
unmusical only describes sounds, not other sensory experiences like taste or smell.
He gave an unmusical speech.
He gave a dull speech.
unmusical applies to sounds that are harsh, not to boring content.

2. lacking the ability to sing, play an instrument, or appreciate music in the way

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

lacking the ability to sing, play an instrument, or appreciate music in the way that most people do — for instance, someone who cannot tell when they are singing off-key.

Example

Christopher admitted he was unmusical and could not tell when he was singing off-key.

be + unmusical (personal inability)

Despite years of piano lessons, Liang remained stubbornly unmusical and played without any feeling.

remained + unmusical (unchanging trait)

Common collocations
  • completely unmusical
  • hopelessly unmusical
  • stubbornly unmusical
  • feel unmusical
  • describe oneself as unmusical
Synonyms
  • tone-deaf

    specifically refers to inability to distinguish musical pitches; more common in everyday speech

  • non-musical

    neutral, factual; lacks the slightly negative tone of unmusical

  • untalented

    broader; can apply to any skill, not just music

Antonyms
  • musical

    having skill or appreciation in music

  • gifted

    naturally talented, often used for musicians

Grammar Patterns

be + unmusical

feel + unmusical

describe + oneself + as + unmusical

Usage Note

Applies to people, not to sounds. Frequently follows linking verbs such as be, feel, seem, or the pattern describe —as—. Can describe either a lack of performing skill or a lack of interest in listening.

Common Mistakes

That song is unmusical' (when meaning you dislike it).
I find that song unpleasant.
to describe a song as unmusical implies it lacks musical quality objectively, not that you personally dislike it.
She played the piano unmusically but with great effort.
Her piano playing sounded unmusical, but she tried very hard.
use the adjective for the resulting sound, not as an adverb for effort.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe sounds that are unpleasant to hear, but they differ in scope and register. Harsh is the most general and common — it can describe any rough, grating sound or even a texture or light. Tuneless is narrower: it says that something lacks a recognizable melody, which makes it a good fit for singing or instrumental playing that goes wrong. Discordant indicates that notes or parts clash with each other, often in a way that feels intentional or compositional rather than accidental. Cacophonous is the most formal and dramatic; it suggests a loud, jarring chaos of many sounds at once — a construction site or a room full of untuned instruments. In everyday conversation, harsh is the natural choice; in a music review, discordant or tuneless might be more precise. For example: "The choir's attempt sounded harsh and tuneless" versus "The new piece was deliberately discordant."

discordant ↗harsh ↗tuneless ↗cacophonous ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • to be unmusical
  • to feel unmusical
  • to describe —as— unmusical

Etymology

Old EnglishFrenchLatinGreek

Formed in English by adding the negative prefix un- (from Old English) to musical, which came into English via French from Latin musica (the art of music), itself borrowed from Greek mousikē (the art of the Muses).