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cognitive dissonance
noun
: psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes held simultaneously
Examples of cognitive dissonance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The harmonies only highlight the cognitive dissonance that allows these characters to get out of bed every morning.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2024
For schools in countries with national curriculum boards, few realities produce more cognitive dissonance than the fact that the United States lacks a national curriculum.
—Ray Ravaglia, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
But in her embodiment of a woman succumbing to cognitive dissonance in order to dissociate from her offenses, Onetto (with an assist from Martel’s camerawork) gestures moreover at a bourgeois class willfully detached from the adversity that surrounds them.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
Participants who were paid $1 felt greater cognitive dissonance due to their inability to rationalize lying.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cognitive dissonance
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cognitive dissonance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1957, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of cognitive dissonance was
in 1957
Dictionary Entries Near cognitive dissonance
Cite this Entry
“Cognitive dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cognitive%20dissonance. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.
Medical Definition
cognitive dissonance
noun
: psychological conflict resulting from simultaneously held incongruous beliefs and attitudes (as a fondness for smoking and a belief that it is harmful)
More from Merriam-Webster on cognitive dissonance
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cognitive dissonance
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