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
Despite the internal and external discord, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing to finalize the bill before the July 4 holiday. Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 1 July 2025 The policy, which aims to cut down on discretionary costs and was implemented in early July, sowed discord from both state police troopers and conference organizers, who have held the events annually without issues with Maryland troopers attending. Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 29 July 2025 Rocket Lab's emergence also comes at a time of mounting public discord between Musk and President Donald Trump. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 26 July 2025 Also, a covert foreign influence campaign aimed at swaying public opinion and sowing discord through fake social media posts. Dan Gooding gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for discord
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discord
Noun
  • Jai Joon Lee, a professor of business management at Sacramento State, said the industry’s strife is not limited to the Sacramento region, with breweries across the country struggling with fluctuating consumer demand for craft beer.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • In Together, the cracks start off a little smaller, with Brie’s Millie and Franco’s Tim grounded in the ordinary strife that comes from any long-term union.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • Hunter Doohan as Tyler Galpin Hunter Doohan plays the role of Tyler Galpin — a character whom Wednesday learns is deeply conflicted and deceptive.
    Karli Bendlin, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Even the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are going on a full decade without a postseason appearance, are reportedly conflicted about whether to fully sell.
    Chad Jennings, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Creativity without friction becomes an echo chamber.
    Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
  • This creates massive friction for mainstream adoption.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The rivalry puts a spotlight on two states that for years have dueled over jobs, innovation, prestige — even sports — with the backdrop of clashing political visions — one progressive, one conservative.
    Michael R. Blood, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The drama stars Norton as Harold, Earl of Wessex, opposite Coster-Waldau as William, Duke of Normandy, two men destined to clash at the Battle of Hastings.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 4 Aug. 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
  • The Epstein controversy has created a schism between President Donald Trump and his MAGA base.
    Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
  • There remains a wide schism between customer data availability and leveraging customer information to deliver meaningful financial guidance.
    Jody Bhagat, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • On this visit, the business community discussed the emerging effects of President Donald Trump's trade war and the impacts on Wisconsin consumers.
    Sophia Tiedge, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Russia’s announcement of the bilateral meeting comes with the US growing increasingly frustrated over the war — Trump has threatened sanctions and tariffs on Russia if a deal is not reached by Friday — and Moscow and Kyiv still far apart in their demands for peace.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This would likely add further support for rate cuts following last week’s two dissents in favor of cuts from Governor Waller and Vice Chair for Supervision Bowman.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The weak jobs number followed the Fed's decision Wednesday afternoon to hold short-term rates unchanged for a fifth consecutive meeting at 4.25% and 4.5% despite demands from President Donald Trump to cut and dissents from two top central bankers.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Discord.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discord. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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