as in tuneless
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Recent Examples of atonal
Riley, a Northern California native, who has always exuded a Zen-like geniality, was part of a generation of young American composers who had turned away from audience-alienating atonal music, which had been proselytized by their teachers in the science-minded postwar academy.
—
William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
In fact, the entire film can't decide whether to embrace the silly or the serious — and yet somehow, that atonal balance works.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
In this new narrative, the history of atonal music’s liberation from the constraints of conventional Western music begins not in Europe but in Mexico.
—Julie Walsh, Artforum, 6 Dec. 2024
The songs’ shimmering melodies keep threatening to dissolve into the atonal, musically replicating the sense that oblivion lurks behind these walls decorated with Renoirs and Manets salvaged from civilization.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for atonal
William Robin, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
In fact, the entire film can't decide whether to embrace the silly or the serious — and yet somehow, that atonal balance works.
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
In this new narrative, the history of atonal music’s liberation from the constraints of conventional Western music begins not in Europe but in Mexico.
—Julie Walsh, Artforum, 6 Dec. 2024
The songs’ shimmering melodies keep threatening to dissolve into the atonal, musically replicating the sense that oblivion lurks behind these walls decorated with Renoirs and Manets salvaged from civilization.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for atonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atonal
Adjective
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Her aesthetics and tuneless vocals left audiences in awe and laughter.—
Raquel Willis,
Time,
19 June 2025
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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
Adjective
-
The dusty chocolate coating is bitter and unpleasant, and there isn’t enough salt to offset it.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
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Some of it has been very unpleasant for me and many others, especially those who look like me.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Another bill would put regulations around data centers, although lawmakers in the final days stripped out some of the language that tech companies found disagreeable.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The day was cold and disagreeable, disappointing those who hoped for warm, sunny weather for the contest between Bogardus and Carver.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His swan song was often off-key.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
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Warming up, Smith throws back his head and belts Bieber lyrics, joyfully off-key.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Elsewhere, delicate capiz shells have been hand-cut and hand-painted to create wall coverings in shimmering shades of emerald green and metallic grey, and artworks by local creatives such as Yasser Al Mulla and Azzam Al Mannai adorn walls.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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This black-and-white version is especially versatile, while the white-and-metallic option feels perfect for spring.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Ballet Orchestra, close to wrapping its 50th anniversary season, sounded especially sonorous in the score’s horn passages.—
Rachel Howard,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
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The sonorous presence of actor Morgan Freeman will be one of the highlights of the Beatles on the Beach festival in Boca Raton on March 12-15, which will include a March 14 performance by Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atonal. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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