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.

It said supply levels of of PPE got "dangerously low" – the inquiry was told at one point the NHS was just days away from running out of key items.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

But they didn’t do it without giving credit to their bosses, who were left out of key categories.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 24, 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

out-of-key

Example Sentences

Related Words