as in discord
a lack of agreement or harmony
the dissonance between what we are told and what we see with our own eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dissonance
With a laugh, the British native charmingly embraces any international dissonances in play.
—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
For Obery Hendricks, an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church who teaches religion at Columbia University, the dissonance is both aesthetic and religious.
—
Jason Derose,
NPR,
26 May 2026
Davis understood dissonance wasn’t a drawback but an opportunity to explore.
—
Steven D. Reske,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Instruments and voices accumulate into immense, sustained, saturating dissonances, with a snare drum cutting through the tear-gas haze.
—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissonance
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
For Obery Hendricks, an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church who teaches religion at Columbia University, the dissonance is both aesthetic and religious.
—
Jason Derose,
NPR,
26 May 2026
Davis understood dissonance wasn’t a drawback but an opportunity to explore.
—
Steven D. Reske,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Instruments and voices accumulate into immense, sustained, saturating dissonances, with a snare drum cutting through the tear-gas haze.
—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissonance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissonance
Noun
-
But the discord between the two leaders stretches far beyond disagreements over the conflict in the Middle East.
-
Despite the discord, the regime is likely to have the final say.
Noun
-
Other insiders dispute this characterization, saying Gunn, Safran and Gillespie had the normal amount of healthy friction any filmmaker and studio have as part of the process of making a movie better.
-
The energy is stored as rotational momentum in an environment of near-zero friction.
Noun
-
Part of that discordance might be the fact that as a genre, rock has historically been difficult to define.
-
The sport of off-roading suffers from a fundamental discordance: The desire to get out into nature and the irreparable harm inherent in the process of off-roading.
Noun
-
The earthquakes have compounded problems created by years of economic and political strife, particularly for the overwhelmed healthcare system.
-
The program was created by Congress in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters, civil strife and other instability.
Noun
-
China has helped cushion the global oil shock, seen its clean energy tech exports surge and framed the war in Iran as another example in which Chinese leadership could supersede the US in ending global conflicts.
-
The characters are all in a continual state of collision, their shifting conflicts inflamed by Coriolanus’ arrogantly uncompromising nature.
Noun
-
Alnaji was part of a pro-Palestinian group protesting over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Kessler was demonstrating in support of Israel, authorities have said.
-
The war period saw its own moments of threats to rights, such as suspending habeas corpus, the legal mechanism to prevent arbitrary detention.
Noun
-
Hussein’s killing cemented the schism between Sunni and Shiite Islam and remains a powerful symbol of resistance against oppression and injustice.
-
Hussein’s killing is seen as having cemented the schism between Sunnis and Shiites, which stems from the early days of Islam and arguments over Muhammad’s successors as caliph, or leader.
Noun
-
China has showcased what may be one of its most innovative unmanned warfare concepts yet, according to reports.
-
The attack comes amid an escalating pattern of long-range warfare between the two countries.
Cite this Entry
“Dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissonance. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
