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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of discordant
Any euphoria, however, is premature and discordant.
—
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
The findings offer a compelling response to Crick’s dilemma, reconciling the discordant timescales to explain how ephemeral molecules maintain memories that last a lifetime.
—Ajdina Halilovic, Wired News, 6 July 2025
Curtis ultimately wins out; Yesterday is sugary-sweet in a way that’s discordant with most of the rest of Boyle’s filmography.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
But dreams can easily turn into nightmares, and this particular lullaby is more than a little discordant.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
The findings offer a compelling response to Crick’s dilemma, reconciling the discordant timescales to explain how ephemeral molecules maintain memories that last a lifetime.
—Ajdina Halilovic, Wired News, 6 July 2025
Curtis ultimately wins out; Yesterday is sugary-sweet in a way that’s discordant with most of the rest of Boyle’s filmography.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
But dreams can easily turn into nightmares, and this particular lullaby is more than a little discordant.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discordant
Adjective
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One option is to simply double down on the existing approach and become shriller.—
Robert G. Eccles,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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The warnings start coming in, first shrill alarms from our cellphones alerting us of a tornado warning, and then the stirring call of tornado-warning sirens outside of the windows.—
Colleen Hagerty,
Rolling Stone,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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During recent surveys for these noisy lizards in Namibia, researchers found five species new to science, according to the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
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The Aventho 200’s microphone uses Qualcomm’s cVc technology to ensure high-quality audio on phone calls and video meetings, even in noisy environments such as crowded trains or busy airports.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Mid-summer changes to United’s revolving credit facility indicated a switch in strategy, and there was a more aggressive approach in the market following a summit in Iceland between Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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The occurrences grew more aggressive over time, with the Smurls' 75-pound German shepherd getting slammed into a wall and Jack getting attacked while praying.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Research on beta blockers shows conflicting results Two major studies disagreed over the impacts of beta blockers for heart attack patients.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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The two survivors’ accounts don’t match up, suggesting a longer version would unfold like Kurosawa’s Roshomon, from multiple, conflicting points of view.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His new film, Highest 2 Lowest, which opened Friday, flips Akira Kurosawa’s mannered 1963 staple, High and Low, into a rowdy, topical, laugh-out-loud romp (starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and A$AP Rocky) that’s as beautifully jarring as a dissonant sax solo.—
Will Dukes,
Rolling Stone,
17 Aug. 2025
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Still, the moody, dissonant synths were transfixing.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, after fighters from Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in control of the territory, attacked Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages.—
Stephanie van den Berg,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
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The military that took over Burkina Faso in a 2022 coup has grown increasingly intolerant of dissent amid worsening Islamist militant violence in the West African country.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Too inconsistent for Andoni Iraola’s liking, only averaging a goal or assist every 175 minutes in all competitions last season, his talent isn’t in doubt, but can Keith Andrews turn Brentford’s record signing into a top-level Premier League player?—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
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The combination of his age, declining offensive efficiency, high-volume turnovers and inconsistent play likely plays a factor.—
Ricardo Klein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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For sixteen hours a week, Valentine hopes to share some melody in a place that, for some, can feel inharmonious.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
24 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Discordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discordant. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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