discord

1 of 2

noun

dis·​cord ˈdi-ˌskȯrd 

1

a

: lack of agreement or harmony (as between persons, things, or ideas)

… must we fall into the jabber and babel of discord while victory is still unattained?

—Sir Winston Churchill

b

: active quarreling or conflict resulting from discord among persons or factions : strife

marital discord

discord between the two parties

2

a music

(1)

: a combination of musical sounds that strikes the ear harshly

(2)

: dissonance

The song ends on a discord.

b

: a harsh or unpleasant sound

discord

2 of 2

verb

dis·​cord ˈdi-ˌskȯrd 

di-ˈskȯrd

discorded; discording; discords

intransitive verb

: disagree, clash

Synonyms

Noun

• conflict
• disaccord
• discordance
• discordancy
• disharmony
• dissension
• dissention
• dissent
• dissidence
• dissonance
• disunion
• disunity
• division
• friction
• infighting
• inharmony
• schism
• strife
• variance
• war
• warfare

Verb

• clash
• collide
• conflict
• disaccord
• jar

Choose the Right Synonym for discord

discord, strife, conflict, contention, dissension, variance mean a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony.

discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Examples of discord in a Sentence

Noun

The city has long been known as a scene of racial intolerance and discord.

The song ends on a discord.

Verb

the evangelist's lavish lifestyle discords with his professed religious beliefs

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Successfully navigating such a challenge requires insight, tact and a willingness to examine not just your own behavior but also the underlying reasons behind the discord. —Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Henry's point that discord can be a path toward – rather than an obstacle to – love. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

Meanwhile, far-right politicians like Harris will continue riding Democratic discord back into office. —Marc Lester, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025

Despite the current geopolitical discord, the movie was No. 1 in that market on both Saturday and Sunday, and is in a tight race with a local title for the weekend win. —Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English descorde, discord, from Anglo-French descorde, from Latin discordia, from discord-, discors — see discord entry 2

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French descorder, from Latin discordare, from discord-, discors discordant, from dis- + cord-, cor heart — more at heart

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

discord

noun

dis·​cord

ˈdis-ˌkȯ(ə)rd

1

: lack of agreement or harmony : conflict

discord between political parties

2

a

: a harsh combination of musical sounds

b

: a harsh or unpleasant sound