unmusical

American  

[uhn-myoo-zi-kuhl] / ʌnˈmyu zɪ kəl /

adjective

1. not musical; deficient in melody, harmony, rhythm, or tone.

2. acoustically and aesthetically harsh on the ear; strident; dissonant; cacophonous.

3. not fond of or skilled in music.

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unmusical British  

/ ʌnˈmjuːzɪkəl /

adjective

1. not musical or harmonious

2. not talented in or appreciative of music

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Other Word Forms

• unmusically adverb
• unmusicalness noun

Etymology

Origin of unmusical

First recorded in 1600–10; un- ¹ + musical

Example Sentences

This summer, in fact, unmusical jumpy video is at all times disconcerting.

From Los Angeles Times

Luke Hickey is the flashiest, thrillingly so and never unmusical.

From New York Times

In one, the diabetic Ivana unhesitatingly devours sweet desserts; in another, though completely unmusical, she performs an unknown violin composition like a virtuoso.

From Washington Post

Bowed at any other point, the instrument reverts to being a useful, but unmusical, hand tool.

From New York Times

To prevent listeners from being disoriented by the otherwise unmusical plot suddenly switching to song, the music is always placed at the end of an episode; the same is true of Coss’ show.

From The Verge