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Definitions

out-of-key

ADJECTIVE
harsh
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter bleak grim hard rigid severe sharp strident
STRONG
coarse
WEAK
acrid asperous astringent cacophonous caterwauling clashing cracked craggy creaking croaking disagreeing discordant dissonant disturbing earsplitting flat glaring grating guttural hoarse incompatible jagged jangling jarring noisy not smooth off-key out-of-tune rasping raucous rugged rusty screeching sour stridulous tuneless uneven unlevel unmelodious unmusical unrelenting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bland bright calm cheerful easy facile flexible kind low mild moderate nice pleasant pliable pliant soft sunny yielding
WEAK
courteous gentle peaceful pleasing polite smooth
ADJECTIVE
scratchy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cracked discordant hoarse raspy raucous
WEAK
acrid asperous astringent bitter bleak cacophonous caterwauling clashing coarse craggy creaking croaking disagreeing dissonant disturbing dry earsplitting flat glaring grating grim guttural hard incompatible jagged jangling jarring noisy not smooth off-key out-of-tune rasping rigid rough rugged rusty screeching severe sharp sour squawky strident stridulous tuneless uneven unlevel unmelodious unmusical unrelenting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
soft
ADJECTIVE
squawky
Synonyms
WEAK
cacophonous caterwauling coarse cracked creaking croaking discordant dissonant earsplitting flat grating grim guttural hard hoarse jagged jangling jarring noisy off-key out-of-tune rasping raspy raucous rough rugged rusty scratchy screeching severe sharp sour strident stridulous tuneless unmelodious unmusical

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.

Yet as a fulfillment of what had gone before, I found it unsatisfying, out of key and sort of unfair.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2024

The charges led to an overhaul of FIFA’s leadership, including the ouster of its longtime president Sepp Blatter, and made celebrities out of key players in the case.

From New York Times • Jan. 27, 2024

“At this time, if there are two feature films happening at the same time, we start running out of key crew.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 18, 2023

Those fears have grown in recent weeks as Russian forces were pushed out of key Ukrainian cities such as Kharkiv, with some units even pushed back across the Russia-Ukraine border by highly coordinated counterattacks.

From Washington Times • Sep. 21, 2022

So Nina taught her the words, and they sang together, fumbling through the verses, hopelessly out of key, until the lanterns burned low.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo