Unmelodious: meaning, definitions and examples
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unmelodious
[ ʌnˈmɛlədɪəs ]
sound quality
Unmelodious describes a sound that lacks melody, harmony, or pleasantness. It often refers to music or singing that is discordant or unpleasant to hear. This term is commonly used to describe noises that are grating or jarring.
Synonyms
cacophonous, discordant, dissonant, grating
Examples of usage
- The unmelodious clanging of the pots broke the silence.
- Her unmelodious singing grated on the ears of the audience.
- The unmelodious sounds of the machinery made it hard to concentrate.
- He described the unmelodious sound of the traffic as overwhelming.
Word origin
The term 'unmelodious' is formed by adding the prefix 'un-' to the word 'melodious'. The prefix 'un-' is derived from Old English 'un-', meaning 'not', which negates the adjective it modifies. The root word 'melodious' comes from the Latin 'melodiosus', which means 'full of melody, tuneful'. This Latin word is derived from 'melodia', which itself originates from the Greek 'melōidía', meaning 'singing, chant'. The combination of these elements reflects a clear opposition to melody, emphasizing a lack of harmony or musicality.