1
as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds
discordant tones coming from the poorly tuned instrument
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a troubled, discordant family that would benefit from professional counseling
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discordant
Here and in the Rachmaninov, those sections’ pianos sounded more discordant than delicate.
—
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
The American legal system is predicated on the advocacy of opposing or discordant views and arguments.
—Michael McAuliffe, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025
That’s intentional, Jimenez explained in a TikTok about an earlier, similarly discordant cover.
—Julio Ojeda-Zapata, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025
If the past 50 years of scores were all about boundless emotionality, these newer scores are pulsing and discordant — closer to Steve Reich or Karlheinz Stockhausen than European Romantic composers like Beethoven or first-generation Americans like Leonard Bernstein.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
The American legal system is predicated on the advocacy of opposing or discordant views and arguments.
—Michael McAuliffe, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025
That’s intentional, Jimenez explained in a TikTok about an earlier, similarly discordant cover.
—Julio Ojeda-Zapata, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025
If the past 50 years of scores were all about boundless emotionality, these newer scores are pulsing and discordant — closer to Steve Reich or Karlheinz Stockhausen than European Romantic composers like Beethoven or first-generation Americans like Leonard Bernstein.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discordant
Adjective
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Their bathroom floor also pooled with water after showering, and noise from other apartments, like the shrill beeps of a low-battery smoke detector next door, carried through the paper-thin walls.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
22 Apr. 2025
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As such, The Studio is shrill and talky, its chaotic scenes sparked by random performers like Charlize Theron, Zac Efron, Olivia Wilde and Sarah Polley, all of whom want something from Remick.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While the noisy cicadas are harmless to people and don’t sting or bite, periodical cicadas can be concentrated and very numerous in some spots.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2025
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The Frigidaire delivers in many categories, but the shelf adjustments are limited, the fridge was noisier than average, and the temperature was inconsistent, leading to frozen items in the refrigerated section.—
Alice Knisley Matthias,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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However, thanks to aggressive conservation efforts, including predator control programs, habitat restoration, and breeding initiatives, several kiwi species have seen rebounds.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Even so, the aggressive play in this post-season has stood out.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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For Adelstein, the defense has plenty of reasonable doubt: From evidence presented, from conflicting evidence and from a lack of evidence.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2025
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The conflicting reports regarding Hudson's access to UNC Football came just over a week after the couple made headlines for an interview that turned uncomfortable on CBS Sunday Mornings on April 27.—
Natasha Dye,
People.com,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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The creatively dissonant effort drove a nearly 10% month-over-month increase in store brand sales and a 12% increase across the category; expanded 7-Eleven’s in-house creative agency, producing campaigns faster and cheaper, all while also reducing plastic bag usage by 37%.—
Seth Matlins,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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The book cover, showing a happy couple on a beach accompanied by a dog with a stick in its mouth, seems cheerily dissonant.—
Julio Ojeda-Zapata,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Saturday's summit comes two months after Israel ended a ceasefire reached with the Hamas militant group in January.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2025
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Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militant group operates from civilian areas.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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Oilers’ power play comes up short The power play has been the Oilers’ bread and butter for so long, but it’s been inconsistent in the playoffs and downright nonexistent on the road.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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SoftBank’s investment division can be inconsistent, as it is driven by changes in public and private financial markets.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
13 May 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 24 May. 2025.
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