dissonances

noun

plural of dissonance
as in discords
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 dissonances As a statement of purpose, its dissonances, transformations, and ultimate balance are just about perfect. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 28 Sep. 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 With a laugh, the British native charmingly embraces any international dissonances in play. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 27 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 From Zehetmair’s searching dissonances, the SPCO moved into Brahms’ Double Concerto, performed by concertmaster Steven Copes and principal cello Julie Albers. — Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025 Although the relocation of a very Nordic communitarian milieu to a British setting creates its own cultural dissonances, the end result is a nifty ethical puzzle about balancing the needs of individuals versus those of the community. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissonances
  1. discords
  2. frictions
  3. conflicts
  4. schisms
  5. wars
Noun
  • This proves that God’s kingdom is what is truly present, even where earthly discords seem to be.
    — Tony Lobl, Christian Science Monitor, 26 May 2026
  • Your dedicated Slack channels, private discords and endless Reddit threads.
    — April Uchitel, Flow Space, 6 Aug. 2025
Definition of discords
Noun
  • Certain frictions or frustrations became apparent during the reunion as some of those women tried to make their voices heard in the din of lively conversation.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Only there can tingly frictions and glints of revelation emerge.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of frictions
Noun
  • The war has cast a shadow on Persian Gulf nations that have long presented themselves as paragons of stability in a volatile region, mostly unaffected by the conflicts raging in the wider Middle East.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • There are other long shots Trump could attempt, such as trying to end intractable conflicts in Kashmir or Sudan, to forge a reputation as a peacemaker.
    — Daniel W. Drezner, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of conflicts
Noun
  • Swift was preternaturally avoidant of zealotry, with the obscure religious wars between the Lilliputians and the Blefscuans over how to crack an egg reminiscent of internecine Christian schisms concerning the real presence in the Eucharist.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
  • This is Kubrick’s modus operandi throughout the film, setting up scenes where furniture moves from shot to shot, wall decorations change, and there are further schisms between Ullman’s exposition and the reality that transpires.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of schisms
Noun
  • The focal point of every Remembrance Day is the Cenotaph in Whitehall, the Portland stone monument where tribute is paid to those who fell in the wars and conflicts in which the country has participated.
    — Amaia Odriozola, Vanity Fair, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Yet, analysts mostly say that the rearmament boom is structural, and even an end to wars in Ukraine and Iran won't derail it.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of wars

Browse Nearby Words

dissonance
dissonances
dissonant
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Cite this Entry

“Dissonances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissonances. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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