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English
Adjective
tone-deaf (comparative more tone-deaf, superlative most tone-deaf)
- Unable to clearly distinguish the difference in pitch between different notes.
Although he was tone-deaf, he was a great lyricist.
This is a distinction unavailable to the tone-deaf.
- (colloquial) Having little or shallow/banal appreciation of music, whether or not as a result of tone deafness.
- (colloquial, figurative) Out of touch with the experience of ordinary people.
a politician's tone-deaf remarks about the price of bread
The elected official's tone-deaf remarks about the operations of the clerk’s office were disappointing.
- (colloquial, figurative) Insensitive and offensive as a result of not noticing the current social context.
2023 May 24, Philip Galanes, “I Used a Slur for Accuracy When Repeating a Joke. Why Is Everyone Upset?”, in The New York Times:Otherwise, saying “N-word” is plenty accurate; I knew exactly what you meant. And arguing for your need to use an explosive term, when a common euphemism will do, makes you seem defensive and tone-deaf.
2024 May 21, Arwa Mahdawi, “Sex-positive feminism had its moment – and now it has been replaced by voluntary celibacy”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:The campaign – which Fast Company described as “eyebrow-raising”, “controversial” and “tone-deaf” – did not land well.
Derived terms
Translations
unable to distinguish differences in pitch
insensitive and offensive
See also