discord 1 of 2

discord

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verb

as in to conflict
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably the evangelist's lavish lifestyle discords with his professed religious beliefs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun discord contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of discord are conflict, contention, dissension, strife, and variance. While all these words 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

When can conflict be used instead of discord?

The words conflict and discord can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When is it sensible to use contention instead of discord?

The meanings of contention and discord largely overlap; however, contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When would dissension be a good substitute for discord?

In some situations, the words dissension and discord are roughly equivalent. However, dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

When could strife be used to replace discord?

While the synonyms strife and discord are close in meaning, 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

When is variance a more appropriate choice than discord?

Although the words variance and discord have much in common, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discord
Noun
Brunson agreed that much of the discord has unfolded over just the last six months. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2025 Kirk was one of the slate of Republicans who called for more transparency around the Jeffrey Epstein files in a rare moment of discord within the party. Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025 However, the pair have had a history of discord. Erica Marrison, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025 When a mother tree is felled, the survival rate of many of its seedlings may be drastically reduced, a process not unlike the reciprocal feedback loop of Yggdrasill, whose deterioration in response to discord in the nine realms spells cosmic collapse. Ellen Walker, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for discord
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discord
Noun
  • Despite all odds—geopolitical strife and upheaval, an economic instability and rising inflation—shoppers are still spending.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 23 Oct. 2025
  • During the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992-98, violent ethnic and religious strife boiled over among Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Catholics.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Of course, that should all be taken with a grain of salt, considering the conflicting reports about their desire to have more kids, and the fact that Harry very recently stood 100% behind his wife after the controversy over her Paris Fashion Week video.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The guidance between the two entities could conflict with one another and undermine the therapeutic process.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Flexibility where feasible, paid time off for symptom flare days, and practical measures like temperature control and quiet rest areas reduce the friction that turns symptoms into lost days.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Davies, who had extended his contract with Bayern until 2030 the previous month, has not played since following the injury, which caused significant friction between his club and country.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sunday’s matchup will feature a movable object clashing with a stoppable force.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Members get first-access to bold gatherings where ideas clash, evolve, and harmonize.
    Big Think, Big Think, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The sport of off-roading suffers from a fundamental discordance: The desire to get out into nature and the irreparable harm inherent in the process of off-roading.
    Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
  • Many of the tunes including sprawling intros and jam sessions, all melded together with discordance, reverb and instrumental solos.
    Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • Unlike his isolated vote in 2006, the schism runs much deeper now.
    Frederic J. Frommer, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
  • In her autobiography, Mabel Dodge laid the blame for her schism with Stein firmly on one person.
    Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The blackout at the power plant, occupied by Russian forces since the early days of the war, marked the tenth time the site lost connection to the grid since the military conflict began, according to the IAEA.
    Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
  • From trade wars to cyber threats, these forces have moved from the margins to the center of strategic decision-making.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The discordancy is so intriguing — like learning that Katharine Graham went to nude encounter sessions at Esalen, or Alan Greenspan was once in a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band.
    New York Times, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021

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Cite this Entry

“Discord.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discord. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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