discordant

adjective

di-ˈskȯr-dᵊnt How to pronounce discordant (audio)
Definition of discordantnext
1
as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds discordant tones coming from the poorly tuned instrument

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2
as in noisy
making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds the discordant cries of gulls fighting over the fishing boat's castoffs

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3
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight a troubled, discordant family that would benefit from professional counseling

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4
as in conflicting
not being in agreement or harmony his views on the proper role of diet in maintaining good health are certainly discordant with most contemporary opinions on the subject

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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 discordant Loesser’s score is ambitious and diverse, with a discordant duet by Joe and Rosabella, lively Neapolitan-style songs by the Italian vineyeard workers, a beautifully harmonized barbershop quartet and some classic Broadway belter songs. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026 This is a talented ensemble unable to show off those talents because they’re all reduced to instruments that play only two discordant notes. — Charles Lewis Iii, Mercury News, 29 May 2026 The most discordant notes were sounded by Larson’s two speakers. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 23 May 2026 The discordant, Bernard Herrmann-esque bursts of María Portugal’s rich score ratchet up the suspense and foreboding. — Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for discordant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discordant
  1. shrill
  2. noisy
  3. aggressive
  4. conflicting
  5. dissonant
  6. militant
  7. inconsistent
  8. inharmonious
Adjective
  • On shrill winter nights, Moscow’s power is conspicuous, its Orthodox cathedrals and Stalinist high-rises illuminated, though the view falls dim in the autumn and spring, shrouded in sheets of greige.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The chaos is still an acceptable price to pay for Birney’s expertly offputting performance, a shrill mania that gets increasingly comic over time.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of shrill
Adjective
  • The next report could produce a noisy response once again so we’re focused on the levels.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 9 July 2026
  • The second version of his hearing aid aimed to amplify the sound of a specific person’s voice in a conversation in a noisy environment.
    — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Definition of noisy
Adjective
  • Jones more aggressive Jones’ three appearances in the California Classic were defined by a passive way of playing.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
  • Your dog is reactive or aggressive around other animals or strangers.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • What happened, Wells' parents say, is a mystery riddled with conflicting stories, implausible explanations and missing details.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • When a consumer double-checks an agent’s recommendation and finds a mismatch—a price discrepancy, a conflicting description or outdated inventory—you’ve lost them permanently.
    — Firdosh Tangri, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of conflicting
Adjective
  • At the track’s apex Korten explodes in and out of dissonant broken chords against Mark Shim’s angular saxophone lines, an unexpected development that sneaks up on you thanks to Sorey’s sticky, slowly evolving drumming.
    — Rae-Aila Crumble, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026
  • This is reminding me of watching Slint play a reunion show in 2014 under the I-65 highway at a festival in Louisville, and how simultaneously awesome and cognitively dissonant that experience was.
    — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 June 2026
Definition of dissonant
Adjective
  • The deal envisions peaceful relations between the two states and lays out a road map to disarm the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, secure Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanon and restore Lebanese sovereignty over its entire national territory.
    — Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026
  • The Conservative lawmaker David Amess was stabbed to death in 2021 by a man inspired by the militant group, Islamic State.
    — Reuters, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • Brought in to be Plum’s partner in the backcourt, Atkins has had an inconsistent offensive season, with career-low scoring and shooting numbers.
    — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • The Longhorns were inconsistent last season, finishing 10th in the SEC before ending with an impressive NCAA tournament performance.
    — Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of inconsistent
Adjective
  • We are made loving, good, and pure – entirely free from any inharmonious tendency.
    — Margaret Rogers, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Setting Discordant Personal Goals A 2023 study published in Current Psychology finds that partners’ inharmonious goals can have detrimental effects on relationships.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Definition of inharmonious

Browse Nearby Words

discordancy
discordant
discorded
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Cite this Entry

“Discordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discordant. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on discordant

Nglish: Translation of discordant for Spanish Speakers

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