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

The long-running newsmagazine has faced scandals, internal dissent and media backlash ever since CBS News was taken over by Paramount Skydance and the Ellison family, which installed Free Press founder Bari Weiss as editorial chief. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026

In the ballroom case, Roberts broke with that stance, not only joining the three liberal Justices but reserving his authority to write the dissent himself. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

Perhaps the most unexpected aspect of Monday’s ruling was that Chief Justice John Roberts dissented. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Leaders announcing decisions the group made during a private retreat day at their annual summit, held this year in Palau, said the island nation of Nauru — which has had warmer ties to China in recent years — dissented from the statement of concern. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026