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.

He and his comrades were often forced to sing Soviet songs and were punished if they didn't sing "loud enough or sang off-key".

From Barron's • May 8, 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

Zohra pulls up Taylor Swift on YouTube and starts to sing along with her off-key.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

off-key

Example Sentences

Related Words