off-key

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After Hegseth gave us his version of news headlines, he performed a brief off-key song and dance before skating out of the room having accomplished little and settling nothing.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

Playing on home clay in his first tournament since a three-month doping ban, Sinner overcame an off-key start before overcoming the 11th seed 1-6 6-0 6-3.

From BBC • May 16, 2025

These songs look and feel like old-Hollywood-style musical numbers, but charm because of their imperfections; characters sing off-key, they lose their breath and their voices crack.

From Salon • Dec. 7, 2024

That moment when Jake sings an off-key version of “...Baby One More Time” is “burned into my frontal cortex,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2024

“And when it spoke, it was like a dozen voices speaking together, but all off-key and awful. Ugh.”

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older