dissonance

noun

ˈdi-sə-nən(t)s How to pronounce dissonance (audio)
Definition of dissonancenext
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

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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 Conversely, a manager who is uncertain or disengaged compounds any existing dissonance. — Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Thus, the dissonance between the calm many people expect from a ceasefire and near-daily reports of ongoing fighting. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 Diné weaver Marilou Schultz has been probing the harmonies and dissonances between these technologies since the 1960s. — Lua Vollaard, ARTnews.com, 24 June 2026 Fans don’t quite know what to make of the gloomy dissonance. — Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissonance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissonance
  1. discord
  2. friction
  3. discordance
  4. strife
  5. conflict
  6. discordancy
  7. war
  8. schism
Noun
  • Then came the Iranian Revolution of 1979, and with it, a new era of chaos and discord.
    — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As the United States marks its 250th anniversary at a time of national discord, Americans are reflecting on the legacy of their country’s history.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of discord
Noun
  • Compared to front load washers, top load washers have what’s called an agitator in the center of the vertical drum that’s used to create friction amongst the clothes when washing.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026
  • This removes much of the friction that’s often involved with editing 360 files – assuming the algorithmic choices match your creative intent.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of friction
Noun
  • 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
  • The songs bounce from discordance and disorientation to harmoniousness and repose — even in the uneasy moments, the songs don't sink.
    — Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Definition of discordance
Noun
  • The rare interview comes a few months after reports of marital strife between Edo and Beatrice, 37, who tied the knot in 2020.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The prospect of labor strife looms over the rest of this Padres/MLB season, what with the labor pact due to expire in December and both sides already drawing bright red lines in public statements.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of strife
Noun
  • The annual Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic will kick off sooner than usual to accommodate booking conflicts with Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The film could use a few more such colorful secondary strands adjoining the main conflict, though one subplot involving a maybe-romance between two jaded journalists assigned to the summit is oddly framed and abruptly dropped.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of conflict
Noun
  • 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
Definition of discordancy
Noun
  • But last year, their relationship blew up amid a turf war over CPS employees.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • While pursuing conservative, anti-migrant policies domestically, Meloni adopted a pragmatic approach toward the European Union and became one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in its war against Russia.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of war
Noun
  • The lasting schism among religious groups would ultimately be linked to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (1948) and that of Indira Gandhi (1984).
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But the Kirtland church community soon experienced schisms and conflicts over doctrine, money and authority.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of schism

Browse Nearby Words

dissolving
dissonance
dissonances
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Cite this Entry

“Dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissonance. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dissonance

Nglish: Translation of dissonance for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dissonance

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