consonance

noun

con·​so·​nance ˈkän(t)-s(ə-)nən(t)s 

1

: harmony or agreement among components

His beliefs are in consonance with the political party's views.

2

a

: correspondence or recurrence of sounds especially in words

specifically : recurrence or repetition of consonants especially at the end of stressed syllables without the similar correspondence of vowels (as in the final sounds of "stroke" and "luck")

b

: concord sense 1b

c

: sympathetic vibration, resonance

Synonyms

• balance
• coherence
• concinnity
• consonancy
• harmony
• orchestration
• proportion
• symmetry
• symphony
• unity

Examples of consonance in a Sentence

at present, the living room lacks consonance because all of the furniture is on one side

in good writing there is always consonance of thought and expression, as the use of simple words for simple thoughts

Recent Examples on the Web

The consonance sounds Intermission. —Rebecca Wright and Olha Konovalova, CNN, 22 Mar. 2022

The syllables fall like dominoes, and consonance collapses like a house of cards. —Chuck Klosterman, SPIN, 11 Mar. 2023

Laotian nam khao is a master class in textural consonance. —Dallas News, 11 Aug. 2022

Through his copious projects, Mr. Schulze’s music maintained a sense of timing: when to meditate, when to build, when to ease back, when to leap ahead, how to balance suspense and repose, dissonance and consonance. —Jon Pareles, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Apr. 2022

Given the conditions, many oil marketing companies in India were not willing to sell fuel products at a loss since retail prices have not risen in the country in consonance with global prices. —Mimansa Verma, Quartz, 4 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English consonance, consonaunce "fixed relationship, agreement," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French consonance "musical note, sound," borrowed from Latin consonantia "musical concord, harmony of sounds," noun derivative of consonant-, consonans "sounding in accord, agreeing, fitting" — more at consonant entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing consonance

• in consonance with

• in consonance with

Kids Definition

consonance

noun

con·​so·​nance ˈkän(t)-s(ə-)nən(t)s 

: harmony or agreement especially of musical tones or speech sounds