cognitive dissonance

noun

: psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes held simultaneously

Examples of cognitive dissonance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Executives remain in a heightened state due to being the ultimate problem-solvers and the internal struggle of cognitive dissonance, where their minds constantly resolve mismatches between beliefs and actions. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Sicardi thought the lack of downtime or recovery added to a kind of cognitive dissonance regarding the product’s ingredient list. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 13 July 2026

Anyone attempting to think seriously about Elon Musk is confronted with a forbidding cognitive dissonance. — Mark O’Connell, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026

The cognitive dissonance contributed to the thickness in the air that week. — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

cognitive dissonance

noun

: psychological conflict resulting from simultaneously held incongruous beliefs and attitudes (as a fondness for smoking and a belief that it is harmful)