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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dissonance
The extraordinary dissonance between his films’ classically cartoonish aesthetic and their thematic bleakness makes Vázquez one of the most singular and consistently surprising animation auteurs working today.
—
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 May 2026
And then shifting chords where the harmonies overlap, so there’s a moment of dissonance.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 15 May 2026
Their rekindled relationship illustrates the dissonance of familial expectations and intimacy with a parent one barely knows.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
In a moment when AI and digital technology allows for on-demand perfection, there’s a creeping thrill to the possibility of flaws and dissonance.
—Andrea Domanick, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissonance
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 May 2026
And then shifting chords where the harmonies overlap, so there’s a moment of dissonance.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 15 May 2026
Their rekindled relationship illustrates the dissonance of familial expectations and intimacy with a parent one barely knows.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
In a moment when AI and digital technology allows for on-demand perfection, there’s a creeping thrill to the possibility of flaws and dissonance.
—Andrea Domanick, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissonance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissonance
Noun
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What should have been a celebratory moment involving the city’s beach ended in discord.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
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After months of stalling and discord, Boise’s Planning and Zoning Commission denied the shelter’s permit in January 2022.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Improving squad planning In recent years — even when the team stood at the top of European football — there was friction with coaches such as Zinedine Zidane and Ancelotti regarding squad planning, because neither held significant decision-making power and both believed more signings were needed.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Day-to-day, sweat, humidity and friction are the routine wear-and-tear concerns.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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.—
Tim Stevens,
ArsTechnica,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The community in Boulder County has been in good hands through strife and trauma.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
8 June 2026
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The end of a color-blind détente doesn’t justify the means of deliberate racial strife.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Noun
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The dreamlike, disturbing stories in this collection by Egyptian writer Makhzangi take place in settings ranging from Egypt toa India to Vietnam to Iraq, often at moments of violent conflict.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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Process automation and technology (PA & T) remains a second-half-of-the-year story due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, impacting shipments and delaying upgrades.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
Noun
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The discordancy is so intriguing — like learning that Katharine Graham went to nude encounter sessions at Esalen, or Alan Greenspan was once in a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
17 Nov. 2021
Noun
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Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran has roiled the global energy markets and sent the cost of gas and jet fuel soaring.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
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Profits at Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC Gas fell 15% as the war cut its sales volumes, and Industries Qatar saw a drop of nearly 26% as the conflict disrupted its petrochemicals operations and shipments.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
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As the country heads toward a national election, the leader once celebrated as a healer is now viewed by critics as the main driver of these schisms.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
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Whether or not there was ever actually a schism, the rumor mill was confident and uninformed.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissonance. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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