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Definitions

off-key

[awf-kee, of-] / ˈɔfˈki, ˈɒf- /
ADJECTIVE
not sounding right
Synonyms
STRONGEST
discordant dissonant
WEAK
abnormal anomalous clinker deviant divergent flat inharmonious irregular jarring not harmonious off-pitch off-tone out of keeping out of pitch out-of-tune sour sour note unmusical unnatural untuned
Antonyms
STRONGEST
concordant harmonious
WEAK
on-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

Amid all of this, responses from the administration were sometimes glaringly off-key.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 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

True to Caray, it appealed to the masses for being endearingly off-key.

From New York Times • Aug. 4, 2023

I heard a laugh and then the first soldier’s voice, slurry and off-key, singing the old wedding song.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.