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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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 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 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 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
  • The disconnect between intent and impact could be sowing discord.
    — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Psychedelics are inherently chaotic drugs, dissolving the boundary between self and surrounds by sowing discord in the brain.
    — Mike McRae August 19, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of discord
Noun
  • Trust between the board chair, independent directors, and the CEO helps companies make bolder decisions faster and reduces the friction when discussing emerging risks or opportunities, Brugg says.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Right now, there’s less social friction around using glasses to record than there was when people first started using phones to record public interactions, Quintin suggested.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 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
  • That’s a very helpful insight that will, hopefully, save the family from future strife.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For as productive as Marte has been for Arizona, however, his time in a Diamondbacks uniform, particularly over the past few seasons, has been marked by strife with the organization, both internal and external.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of strife
Noun
  • Oman, a historic US ally, has attempted to act as a mediator between the US and Iran both before and during the conflict, notably hosting nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington before the war broke out in February.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • That definition appears designed to keep participating firms focused on criminal enterprises and out of interstate conflicts.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 19 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
  • Russian drones have repeatedly breached Romanian airspace throughout the war.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Yields have risen in recent months over growing concerns about inflation stemming from the monthslong war in Iran and ballooning government debt, among other factors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of war
Noun
  • Yet since she was rescued in bad shape in mid-July and transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment, schisms have formed.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of schism

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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 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dissonance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dissonance

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