atonal
adjective
aton·al
| \ (Ë)Ä-ËtĆ-ná”l
, (Ë)a-\
, (Ë)a-\
Definition of atonal
: 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
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Other Words from atonal
atonalism
\ -nÉ-Ëli-zÉm
\
noun
\
noun
atonalist
\ -list
\
noun
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noun
atonality
\ ËÄ-tĆ-Ëna-lÉ-tÄ
, Ëa- \
noun
, Ëa- \
noun
atonally
\ (Ë)Ä-ËtĆ-nÉ-lÄ
, (Ë)a- \
adverb
, (Ë)a- \
adverb
Examples of atonal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
First came a short atonal improvisation, just because, Lang explained. — Los Angeles Times, "Commentary: L.A. needs a summer music festival. Piano Spheres and Monday Evening Concerts show the way," 30 July 2019 The author jumps from one abstruse analysis to another, each chapter ending like a piece of atonal music, with no resolution or sense of closure. — Barton Swaim, WSJ, "Politics: The Government We âLikeâ," 22 Feb. 2019 Mica Leviâs creaky, often atonal score is categorically sickening. — Verge Staff, The Verge, "Smart scares for smart people," 31 Oct. 2018 The collectionâs other works are atonal and process-driven. — Allan Kozinn, WSJ, "Romantic Lushness Meets Post-Tonal Grittiness," 30 May 2018 Who would think to blend a Carrollian poem about crustaceans with atonal caterwauling, piercing Farfisa organ stabs, vintage Jersey Shore suntan lotion slogans, and a seriously raunchy riff played on a four-stringed guitar? — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "The B-52s at 40: An Oral History of Their Awesomely Bizarre Beach Party Breakthrough 'Rock Lobster'," 29 May 2018 Avant-garde developments on the European continent â in particular, the atonal expressionism of Arnold Schoenberg and, especially, Schoenbergâs student Alban Berg â had made the young Britten eager to explore similar chromaticism in his own work. — Matthew Guerrieri, BostonGlobe.com, "A gift from Benjamin Brittenâs teacher," 29 Mar. 2018 Charles Wuorinenâs operatic version of Annie Proulxâs modern classic novella, is brooding, atonal, noble. — The New York Times, New York Times, "22 Musicals, Plays, Concerts, Dances and Festivals You Canât Miss This Spring," 20 Feb. 2018 Some have compared Benjaminâs music to an atonal PellĂ©as et MĂ©lisande. — David Patrick Stearns, Philly.com, "Opera Philadelphia's 'Written on Skin' is a new take on a not-so-old opera," 10 Feb. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'atonal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for atonal
atonal
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of atonal
music
: not written, played, or sung in a particular key
See the full definition for atonal in the English Language Learners Dictionary