Synonyms of dissent

dissent 1 of 2

noun

1

as in discord

a lack of agreement or harmony

considerable dissent within the party's rank and file

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discord
• strife
• friction
• conflict
• war
• discordance
• schism
• discordancy
• warfare
• division
• dissidence
• dissension
• dispute
• variance
• clash
• hostility
• dissonance
• disunity
• infighting
• disagreement
• altercation
• disharmony
• disunion
• argument
• contention
• divide
• debate
• disaccord
• inharmony
• fight
• competition
• collision
• fissure
• quarrel
• brawl
• spat
• inconsistency
• squabble
• animosity
• falling-out
• bicker
• antagonism
• incongruity
• enmity
• rancor
• tiff
• incongruence
• run-in
• antipathy
• incompatibility
• ill will
• cold war
• row
• wrangle
• scrap
• jar
• incongruousness
• mix-up
• miff
• hassle
• inconsistence
• inconsonance
• inharmoniousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• agreement
• peace
• harmony
• accord
• cooperation
• concurrence
• concord
• concordance

2

as in dissidence

departure from a generally accepted theory, opinion, or practice

the church reacted to any form of dissent by promptly excommunicating its proponents

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dissidence
• heresy
• nonconformity
• error
• schism
• heterodoxy
• discord
• defection
• myth
• deviation
• disagreement
• misconception
• apostasy
• deviance
• fallacy
• sectarianism
• dissension
• separatism
• iconoclasm
• scission
• falsehood
• misbelief
• unconventionality
• infidelity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conformity
• orthodoxy
• agreement
• conformation
• conventionality

dissent

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈsent 

as in to disagree

to have a different opinion

anyone who dissented was encouraged to speak out while they had the chance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disagree
• object
• differ
• protest
• conflict
• take issue
• nonconcur
• debate
• resist
• argue
• contrast
• oppose
• clash
• counter
• contest
• dispute
• collide
• quarrel
• fall out
• bicker

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• concur
• agree
• assent
• accept
• consent
• comply
• acquiesce
• defer
• subscribe
• accede
• compromise
• cooperate
• affiliate
• get along
• collaborate
• associate
• side
• ally
• come round
• collude

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dissent

Noun

What universities should teach A university should make students uncomfortable, but not because professors humiliate them, punish dissent, or demand that students defend political positions simply because of their religious or ethnic identities. — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

The government rejects the accusations, saying its institutions remain robust and law enforcement targets violations of the law, not dissent. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Verb

Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the ruling but did not elaborate on their decision to dissent. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026

But in my experience, the bigger challenge can be getting executives to raise dissenting ideas and to then critique those rigorously. — Rebecca Newton, Harvard Business Review, 7 Oct. 2026