dissensus

noun

(ˌ)di(s)-ˈsen(t)-səs How to pronounce dissensus (audio)
Definition of dissensusnext
as in debate
variance of opinion on a matter a democracy relies on dissensus as much as on consensus

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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 dissensus These dramas of politics — each involving the high court’s first black justice — arrive at a singularly contentious political moment in an atmosphere of angry, sometimes violent dissensus. — Manohla Dargis and A.o. Scott, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissensus
  1. debate
  2. disputation
  3. dispute
  4. controversy
  5. disagreement
Noun
  • The debate over the development has played out amid a serious downturn in the region’s entertainment industry, with studios shifting film and television production to Georgia, New Mexico and other out-of-state locations.
    — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Because of the vast amount of money being thrown into these markets, semantic debates have exploded into financial ones.
    — Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of debate
Noun
  • This did not, however, mark the end of disputation concerning the Northwest Angle.
    — Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
  • According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Definition of disputation
Noun
  • According to the Daily Mail, Baldoni and Swift actually communicated after the end of his dispute with Lively, and the two now share a code word when talking about the issue.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 13 July 2026
  • The agreement resolve some disputes as state regulators continue hearing evidence that will determine what millions of customers ultimately pay for electricity.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
Definition of dispute
Noun
  • The Giants have had their share of controversies during their disappointing first half.
    — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
  • The leader of the Reform UK party – which is topping most UK opinion polls – resigned as a member of parliament for Clacton-on-Sea, his constituency in southeast England, on Tuesday, amid mounting controversy over undeclared financial donations.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
Definition of controversy
Noun
  • Rather, the point would be to convert disagreements regarding biodiversity into guidance for ongoing experimentation.
    — Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026
  • His comments broadened the debate beyond Machado’s individual case, framing the controversy as one involving fundamental civil liberties rather than simply a political disagreement over the opposition leader’s role during the disaster response.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
Definition of disagreement

Browse Nearby Words

dissensions
dissensus
dissensuses
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Cite this Entry

“Dissensus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissensus. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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