1
as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds
discordant tones coming from the poorly tuned instrument
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in noisy
making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds
the discordant cries of gulls fighting over the fishing boat's castoffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a troubled, discordant family that would benefit from professional counseling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in conflicting
not being in agreement or harmony
his views on the proper role of diet in maintaining good health are certainly discordant with most contemporary opinions on the subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discordant
The findings offer a compelling response to Crick’s dilemma, reconciling the discordant timescales to explain how ephemeral molecules maintain memories that last a lifetime.
—
Ajdina Halilovic, Quanta Magazine, 7 May 2025
Homes, bars, and dance halls pulsed with sound in a discordant, desperate attempt to stave off death.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 4 June 2025
His India would define itself through diversity; through a grand, maternal embrace of all its discordant parts.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
The discordant note in the conversation was what to do next.
—Barbara Demick, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Ajdina Halilovic, Quanta Magazine, 7 May 2025
Homes, bars, and dance halls pulsed with sound in a discordant, desperate attempt to stave off death.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 4 June 2025
His India would define itself through diversity; through a grand, maternal embrace of all its discordant parts.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
The discordant note in the conversation was what to do next.
—Barbara Demick, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discordant
Adjective
-
The orchestration is a touch grotesque, with the first violins given a shrill D two octaves above middle C.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
-
Still, the shrill alarm that echoed on Friday morning as Israel announced airstrikes on neighboring Iran gave her that familiar feeling.—
Isabel Rivera,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
The world is crowded, noisy, and sometimes hostile.—
F. Willis Johnson,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
-
The negatives included noisy wheels and some faulty stitching.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
And signs have emerged that the White House may be misreading Trump’s election mandate and the political moment, with new polls showing public sentiment turning nationwide on the president’s increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
Turkeys may become aggressive and territorial if comfortable in suburban areas.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Miscommunication, conflicting work styles or uneven access to information can derail even the most talented teams.—
Kristofer Mussar,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
The Senate bill is expected to face pushback from conflicting factions of the party, particularly from fiscal hawks who want to reduce the deficit and lawmakers who have drawn a red line on major cuts to social safety net programs.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
If not, a show that has now been in decline for half its run risks devolving into a mess as self-indulgent, morose, and, well, dissonant as its title character.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 June 2025
-
Roberts brought in dissonant strings and brass for the K2 battle droids.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
Previous negotiations have stalled over Hamas demands of guarantees that further negotiations would lead to the war's end, while Netanyahu has insisted Israel would resume fighting to ensure the militant group's destruction.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
arkansasonline.com,
6 July 2025
-
Israel’s military has launched thousands of attacks targeting any move by the Lebanese militant group to restore its capabilities.—
Nabih Bulos
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
While the company claims that garbage pickup is continuing in all affected areas, many residents and businesses report delays and inconsistent service.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
-
Biking advocates worry about inconsistent rules across the suburban landscape.—
Paulina Czupryna,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Setting Discordant Personal Goals A 2023 study published in Current Psychology finds that partners’ inharmonious goals can have detrimental effects on relationships.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
29 Mar. 2024
-
For sixteen hours a week, Valentine hopes to share some melody in a place that, for some, can feel inharmonious.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
24 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Discordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discordant. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share