Synonyms of discordant

discordant

adjective

di-ˈskȯr-dᵊnt 

1

as in shrill

marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds

discordant tones coming from the poorly tuned instrument

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shrill
• dissonant
• noisy
• inharmonious
• cacophonous
• metallic
• unpleasant
• unmusical
• unmelodious
• unpleasing
• strident
• clashing
• raucous
• harsh
• jarring
• disagreeable
• atonal
• squeaky
• unvocal
• scratching
• blaring
• raspy
• tuneless
• grating
• screeching
• clangorous
• sonorous
• jangling
• clattering
• clanging
• jangly
• off-key
• clamorous
• uproarious
• resounding
• dinning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• musical
• harmonious
• melodious
• melodic
• sweet
• harmonizing
• resonant
• tuneful
• sonorous
• dulcet
• euphonious
• mellow
• mellifluous
• pleasant
• rhythmic
• agreeable
• appealing
• harmonic
• lyrical
• orchestral
• symphonic
• tonal
• lilting
• lyric
• mellifluent
• chordal
• warbling
• polyphonic
• homophonic
• silent
• trilling
• calm
• quiet
• quavering
• hushed
• still
• cadenced
• noiseless
• soundless
• symphonious

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

• noisy
• dissonant
• rackety
• cacophonous
• clangorous
• strident
• sonorous
• dinning
• vociferous
• blatant
• brazen
• brassy
• clamorous
• booming
• uproarious
• obstreperous
• blaring
• earsplitting
• resounding
• clanging
• jangly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• silent
• quiet
• still
• calm
• noiseless
• soundless
• hushed

3

as in aggressive

feeling or displaying eagerness to fight

a troubled, discordant family that would benefit from professional counseling

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aggressive
• militant
• hostile
• contentious
• assaultive
• bellicose
• acidic
• warlike
• ugly
• irritable
• confrontational
• combative
• belligerent
• quarrelsome
• pugnacious
• fierce
• agonistic
• savage
• truculent
• argumentative
• feisty
• disputatious
• vicious
• antagonistic
• on the warpath
• scrappy
• gladiatorial
• rude
• chippy
• brawly
• disagreeable
• cross
• fighting
• warring
• dyspeptic
• peevish
• querulous
• fractious
• fretful
• testy
• bilious
• waspish
• petulant
• irascible
• battling
• ornery
• snappish
• choleric
• bristly
• grouchy
• touchy
• surly
• huffy
• pettish
• grumpy
• hot-tempered
• bearish
• crabby
• ill-tempered
• cranky
• stroppy
• ill-natured
• ill-humored
• prickly
• snappy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peaceful
• peaceable
• nonaggressive
• pacific
• pleasant
• conciliatory
• friendly
• amiable
• unwarlike
• benevolent
• cordial
• amicable
• ingratiating
• genial
• uncontentious
• gracious
• nonbelligerent
• quiet
• good-natured
• complaisant
• easygoing
• affable
• calm
• uncombative
• serene
• tranquil
• sociable
• mild
• benign
• unbelligerent
• obliging
• kindhearted
• gentle
• antimilitarist
• relaxed
• anti-imperialist
• kindly
• good-tempered

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

• conflicting
• inconsistent
• incompatible
• discrepant
• clashing
• inharmonious
• contradictory
• incongruous
• mutually exclusive
• repugnant
• inconsonant
• contrary
• disagreeing
• irreconcilable
• at variance
• at odds
• antagonistic
• opposing
• opposite
• antithetical
• diametric
• antipodal
• antipodean

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• consistent
• concordant
• harmonious
• congruent
• compatible
• agreeing
• consonant
• correspondent (with or to)
• conformable (to)
• similar
• like
• accordant
• congruous
• nonconflicting
• akin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of discordant

The excellent quartet carries a dose of Nineties alt-rock, while Williams’ vocals sink into the potent lyrics and discordant, dreamy instrumentals. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2026

Above all, the overwrought thirty-two-dollar packet of luxury strikes a discordant note in a restaurant that seems, in every other way, to have no need for such clunky signifiers. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 26 July 2026

In their third and final decade as one of America’s greatest bands, Sonic Youth had all but given up on pushing their discordant art rock into the mainstream. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 29 June 2026

One post from February features a self-portrait to which Longo added ominous, discordant music and the grain of a CCTV camera, like a prisoner in a horror movie. — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026