cloth-eared
Refusing to listen
Cloth-eared means unable or unwilling to hear properly—either literally deaf or, more often, failing to listen or understand.
The image suggests ears stuffed with cloth.
Primarily British: Are you cloth-eared? I've told you three times already.
Someone cloth-eared misses the point or ignores what's plainly said.
Unable to hear
- inattentiveNot paying attention
- heedlessCareless of consequences
- unresponsiveFailing to react or reply
- unheedingFailing to notice
closed-minded · impervious · dismissive · tuned-out · ignoring · unhearing · blocked · resistant
Lacking emotional understanding
- unsympatheticWithout pity or understanding
- callousCruelly insensitive to others
- heartlessLacking pity or mercy
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
cold · uncaring · insensible · oblivious · tactless · dismissive · disregarding · thick-skinned
Refusing to change course
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
willful · unyielding · inflexible · intransigent · obdurate · unmovable · unpersuadable · hardheaded
Wrong pitch, musically
- flatLacking vertical variation
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- out-of-tuneWrong in pitch
- discordantLacking musical agreement
deaf
Unable to hear
- inattentiveNot paying attention
- heedlessCareless of consequences
- unresponsiveFailing to react or reply
unheeding · closed-minded · impervious · dismissive · tuned-out · ignoring · unhearing · blocked · resistant · closed-off
unempathetic
Lacking emotional understanding
- unsympatheticWithout pity or understanding
- callousCruelly insensitive to others
- heartlessLacking pity or mercy
unfeeling · cold · uncaring · insensible · oblivious · tactless · dismissive · disregarding · thick-skinned · unaware
stubborn
Refusing to change course
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
headstrong · willful · unyielding · inflexible · intransigent · obdurate · unmovable · unpersuadable · hardheaded · unbending
off-key
Wrong pitch, musically
- flatLacking vertical variation
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- out-of-tuneWrong in pitch
discordant · unmusical · pitchless · tuneless
cloth-earedattentive
Paying close notice
alert · all ears · responsive · perceptive · observant
cloth-earedattentive
Paying close notice
perceptive · musical · pitch-perfect · discerning · sharp
clothes, clothing, earring, clothe, clothed, eared, unclothed, earlobe, earful