dissension

noun

dis·​sen·​sion di-ˈsen(t)-shən 

variants or less commonly dissention

: disagreement

especially : partisan and contentious quarreling

causing dissension within the police department

a colony threatened by religious dissension

Synonyms

• conflict
• disaccord
• discord
• discordance
• discordancy
• disharmony
• dissent
• dissidence
• dissonance
• disunion
• disunity
• division
• friction
• infighting
• inharmony
• schism
• strife
• variance
• war
• warfare

Choose the Right Synonym for dissension

discord, strife, conflict, contention, dissension, variance mean a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony.

discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Examples of dissension in a Sentence

The incident has caused a lot of dissension within the police department.

Religious dissension threatened to split the colony.

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite the initial wave of dissension, Hyun-ju has championed herself as a fan favorite on social media due to her cunning, bravery, wit and relatability. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025

Hamas was careful to avoid open dissension, but signs of unease among politburo members were evident. —Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2025

Bass has also battled extraordinary dissension in her own ranks, with Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley in interviews Friday characterizing the department as understaffed and underfunded and implying that Bass had failed her. —Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025

The internal dissension is a pressing concern for Knox and Shirley, who have safely returned to their home after the previous episode’s rappelling adventure but have brought Judicial’s wrath down on their people. —Noel Murray, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French discension, from Latin dissension-, dissensio, from dissentire — see dissent entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dissension

• attention
• contention
• convention
• declension
• detention
• dimension
• distension
• extension
• intension
• invention
• laurentian
• prehension

Kids Definition

dissension

noun

dis·​sen·​sion dis-ˈen-chən 

: disagreement in opinion : discord