DISSONANCE Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

dissonance

noun

ˈdi-sə-nən(t)s

Definition of dissonance

as in discord

a lack of agreement or harmony the dissonance between what we are told and what we see with our own eyes

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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 dissonance Clocking in at 30 minutes, Williams’ Quartet La Jolla is a five-part work that politely utilizes dissonance and sometimes abstract rhythms. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 The dissonance is reflected in the gap between the confident pronouncements of Chinese leaders — aimed at an international audience — and their domestic anxieties. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 21 July 2026 The first sequence plays out with breathtaking suspense, the second with wrenching tragedy; the difference is calibrated by the composer Ludwig Göransson, whose score pulses with mournful dissonance and martial fury. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026 Her full-length works often feature people, especially women, holding their ground and deviating from societal expectations, which creates dissonance between their internal and external worlds. — Sky Davis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissonance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissonance

Noun

A throw toward the center and then, at times, a lateral backwards to create discord among the secondaries and then race downfield.

— Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 4 Nov. 2026
To use isolated instances of interpersonal discord as a pretext to strip 18 distinct counties of their democratic home rule is a severe structural overreaction.

— Eric Wargotz, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of discord

Noun

That can reduce friction in transactions by giving both sides a reference point based on past sales of the same card at the same grade.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
The applications are meant to enable Changshin teams to identify issues earlier, reduce handoff friction and use production outcomes to inform future decisions.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of friction

Noun

And so my conversation with Noah centered on the idea of a space where there would be a discordance between what the physical space looked like and what was happening emotionally in that room.

— Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Part of that discordance might be the fact that as a genre, rock has historically been difficult to define.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 19 Nov. 2025

Definition of discordance

Noun

The core elements—airy melodies, drug talk, copious ad-libs—are old hat, but frank tales of suburban ennui and romantic strife give the Minneapolis rapper’s latest album a refreshingly personal air.

— Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
There have been reports of internal strife at the London bureau at CBS News over the tone of its Middle East coverage since Bari Weiss, a strong supporter of Israel, took over as the network’s editor in chief last year.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of strife

Noun

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has also warned that Iran would retaliate if Washington reignited the conflict.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
Its cost was recovered after just one month of conflict, according to people familiar with the matter.

— Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

But Valdez suggested such schisms within the party would likely take a backseat to unity on domestic concerns like economic issues and immigration.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 5 Nov. 2026
The schism would go on to shape the future of journalism from the newsletter economy all the way up to the highest echelons of Hollywood and television news after Weiss was appointed editor in chief of CBS News last year.

— Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of schism

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dissolving

dissonance

dissonances

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“Dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissonance. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of dissonance

noun

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