tone-deaf

[ tohn-def ]

/ ˈtoʊnˌdɛf /

adjective

unable to distinguish differences in pitch in musical sounds when producing or hearing them.

unable to perceive public sentiment, attitudes, or preferences: The council’s politically tone-deaf plan would cost lower income residents $100 a year.

lacking emotional insight; insensitive or unsympathetic to others: She is often tone-deaf to her daughter’s needs.

Origin of tone-deaf

First recorded in 1890–95

OTHER WORDS FROM tone-deaf

tone deaf·ness, noun

Words nearby tone-deaf

tone arm, tone cluster, tone color, tone colour, tone control, tone-deaf, tone dialing, tone down, Tonegawa, tone language, toneless

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for tone-deaf

Some hated his tone-deaf assertion that he has behaved with “lightness” toward women.
DSK: the Fallout Continues|Tracy McNicoll|September 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The story writes itself: ‘President Proves She Is Tone-Deaf on Economy.’
Meet the First Female President|Nicolle Wallace|October 17, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Flo was not just mediocre: she was catastrophically tragic, tone-deaf, screechy and, as Randy Jackson would say, “pitchy, dawg!”
Dead Cool: Florence Foster Jenkins|Simon Doonan|July 10, 2010|DAILY BEAST
This “ surprising option” (as the tone-deaf Times headline calls it) is often viewed as caddish.
The New Unsafe Sex|Tracy Quan|July 28, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Some people are "tone-deaf," and they find it physically impossible to observe the law of contrasts.
The Story of My Life|Ellen Terry
Some people are tone-deaf, and they find it physically impossible to observe the law of contrasts.
Vocal Expression|Katherine Jewell Everts
Trilby the tone-deaf, who couldn't sing one single note in tune!
Trilby|George Du Maurier
It is easy to understand that this master of harmony possessed no charms for a tone-deaf young man.
Makers of Electricity|Brother Potamian
There are people who are colour-blind, people who are tone-deaf.
The World I Live In|Helen Keller

British Dictionary definitions for tone-deaf

tone-deaf

adjective

unable to distinguish subtle differences in musical pitch

Derived forms of tone-deaf

tone deafness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

单词	tone-deaf
释义	tone-deaf [ tohn-def ] / ˈtoʊnˌdɛf / adjective unable to distinguish differences in pitch in musical sounds when producing or hearing them. unable to perceive public sentiment, attitudes, or preferences: The council’s politically tone-deaf plan would cost lower income residents $100 a year. lacking emotional insight; insensitive or unsympathetic to others: She is often tone-deaf to her daughter’s needs. Origin of tone-deaf First recorded in 1890–95 OTHER WORDS FROM tone-deaf tone deaf·ness, noun Words nearby tone-deaf tone arm, tone cluster, tone color, tone colour, tone control, tone-deaf, tone dialing, tone down, Tonegawa, tone language, toneless Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for tone-deaf Some hated his tone-deaf assertion that he has behaved with “lightness” toward women. DSK: the Fallout Continues\|Tracy McNicoll\|September 20, 2011\|DAILY BEAST The story writes itself: ‘President Proves She Is Tone-Deaf on Economy.’ Meet the First Female President\|Nicolle Wallace\|October 17, 2010\|DAILY BEAST Flo was not just mediocre: she was catastrophically tragic, tone-deaf, screechy and, as Randy Jackson would say, “pitchy, dawg!” Dead Cool: Florence Foster Jenkins\|Simon Doonan\|July 10, 2010\|DAILY BEAST This “ surprising option” (as the tone-deaf Times headline calls it) is often viewed as caddish. The New Unsafe Sex\|Tracy Quan\|July 28, 2009\|DAILY BEAST Some people are "tone-deaf," and they find it physically impossible to observe the law of contrasts. The Story of My Life\|Ellen Terry Some people are tone-deaf, and they find it physically impossible to observe the law of contrasts. Vocal Expression\|Katherine Jewell Everts Trilby the tone-deaf, who couldn't sing one single note in tune! Trilby\|George Du Maurier It is easy to understand that this master of harmony possessed no charms for a tone-deaf young man. Makers of Electricity\|Brother Potamian There are people who are colour-blind, people who are tone-deaf. The World I Live In\|Helen Keller British Dictionary definitions for tone-deaf tone-deaf adjective unable to distinguish subtle differences in musical pitch Derived forms of tone-deaf tone deafness, noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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