tone-deaf
|tone/deaf|
🇺🇸
/ˈtoʊnˌdɛf/
🇬🇧
/ˈtəʊnˌdɛf/
insensitive to pitch or context
Etymology
'tone-deaf' originates from the combination of 'tone,' referring to musical pitch, and 'deaf,' meaning unable to hear.
The term 'tone-deaf' has been used in English since the 19th century to describe a lack of musical pitch perception.
Initially, it meant 'unable to perceive musical pitch,' but it has evolved to also describe insensitivity to social nuances.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
unable to perceive differences in musical pitch accurately.
Despite years of practice, he remained tone-deaf and couldn't sing in tune.
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Adjective 2
insensitive to the nuances or subtleties of a situation or context.
His comments during the meeting were considered tone-deaf by many attendees.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/24 23:36