tone-deaf

Adjective

tone-deaf (comparative more tone-deaf, superlative most tone-deaf)

1. 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.
2. (colloquial) Having little or a shallow or banal appreciation of music, whether or not as a result of tone deafness.
3. (colloquial, figuratively) 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.
4. (colloquial, figuratively) Insensitive and offensive as a result of not noticing the current social context.
   • 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.2023 May 24, Philip Galanes, “I Used a Slur for Accuracy When Repeating a Joke. Why Is Everyone Upset?”, in The New York Times
   • The campaign – which Fast Company described as “eyebrow-raising”, “controversial” and “tone-deaf” – did not land well.2024 May 21, Arwa Mahdawi, “Sex-positive feminism had its moment – and now it has been replaced by voluntary celibacy”, in The Guardian, →ISSN