dissonance
noun
dis·so·nance
ˈdi-sə-nən(t)s 
1
a
: lack of agreement
the dissonance between the truth and what people want to believe
especially
: inconsistency between the beliefs one holds or between one's actions and one's beliefs compare cognitive dissonance
b
: an instance of such inconsistency or disagreement
the mingling of bitter comedy and stark tragedy produces sharp dissonances—
F. B. Millett
F. B. Millett2
: a mingling of sounds that strike the ear harshly : a mingling of discordant sounds
especially, music
: a clashing or unresolved musical interval or chord
Synonyms
Examples of dissonance in a Sentence
the dissonance between what we are told and what we see with our own eyes
Recent Examples on the Web
The warm synth-pop of Midnights serves as the closest reference point, but that album was cleanly orchestrated, while The Tortured Poets Department wants to get in the mud with soft-loud dissonance and tracklist sprawl.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
McCourt sees a major dissonance in the fact that, while people create the data, the companies own it.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024
But their initial dissonance, grounded in their characters’ relative distance, merges in a joint effort satisfying in both plot and in sound: his digital toolbox with her analog instrument; his grime rap over her introductory chords.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023
This trend was most visible in Asia, where 13 of 15 companies ramped up their operations, though the same dissonance was seen in the Middle East (7 of 10), Europe (13 of 23), South America (3 of 5), Australia (3 of 4), and Africa (3 of 6).
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
But the dissonance among the Russian leader’s base must unnerve the Kremlin.
—Timothy Frye, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2024
For Sweet Baby cofounder David Bédard, that dissonance is jarring.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
Ziggy told the outlet that the dissonance between the responses to the film reminded him of how music critics responded to his father’s albums as they were being released.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
Ives’ 19th-century views on femininity (which to him was represented by conventional tonal harmony) and masculinity (aggressive dissonance) do not sit well with modern notions of gender.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2023
Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
McCourt sees a major dissonance in the fact that, while people create the data, the companies own it.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024
But their initial dissonance, grounded in their characters’ relative distance, merges in a joint effort satisfying in both plot and in sound: his digital toolbox with her analog instrument; his grime rap over her introductory chords.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023
This trend was most visible in Asia, where 13 of 15 companies ramped up their operations, though the same dissonance was seen in the Middle East (7 of 10), Europe (13 of 23), South America (3 of 5), Australia (3 of 4), and Africa (3 of 6).
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
But the dissonance among the Russian leader’s base must unnerve the Kremlin.
—Timothy Frye, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2024
For Sweet Baby cofounder David Bédard, that dissonance is jarring.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
Ziggy told the outlet that the dissonance between the responses to the film reminded him of how music critics responded to his father’s albums as they were being released.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024
Ives’ 19th-century views on femininity (which to him was represented by conventional tonal harmony) and masculinity (aggressive dissonance) do not sit well with modern notions of gender.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dissonance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near dissonance
Cite this Entry
“Dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissonance. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dissonance
noun
dis·so·nance
ˈdis-ə-nən(t)s
: an unpleasant combination of musical sounds
Medical Definition
dissonance
noun
dis·so·nance
ˈdis-ə-nən(t)s
: inconsistency between the beliefs one holds or between one's actions and one's beliefs see cognitive dissonance
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