atonal
adjective
aton·al
(ˌ)ā-ˈtō-nᵊl 
(ˌ)a-
: marked by avoidance of traditional musical tonality
especially
: organized without reference to key or tonal center and using the tones of the chromatic scale impartially
Examples of atonal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There is no real tune and, as a result, the first minute is dangerously reminiscent of Bernard Hermann’s atonal Psycho score.
—
Meg Walters, Vulture, 17 May 2024
Many would call him the master of modern [atonal] music — music that for most people does not sound melodic.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024
Ludwig Göransson’s score, so brash, percussive, and downright atonal in the first fight scene, now seems more muted and melodic — as though the soundtracks of these two scenes are meant to fit together.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2024
Inside, two atonal compositions (one by Young and one by the artist Jung Hee Choi) play on large speakers.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for atonal 
Meg Walters, Vulture, 17 May 2024
Many would call him the master of modern [atonal] music — music that for most people does not sound melodic.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024
Ludwig Göransson’s score, so brash, percussive, and downright atonal in the first fight scene, now seems more muted and melodic — as though the soundtracks of these two scenes are meant to fit together.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2024
Inside, two atonal compositions (one by Young and one by the artist Jung Hee Choi) play on large speakers.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for atonal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'atonal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near atonal
Cite this Entry
“Atonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atonal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
atonal
adjective
aton·al
(ˈ)ā-ˈtōn-əl
(ˈ)a-
: being music written without traditional organization based on a scale
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share