dissonance
noun
dis·so·nance
ˈdi-sə-nən(t)s 
1
a
: lack of agreement
the dissonance between the truth and what people want to believe
especially
: inconsistency between the beliefs one holds or between one's actions and one's beliefs compare cognitive dissonance
b
: an instance of such inconsistency or disagreement
The mingling of bitter comedy and stark tragedy produces sharp dissonances …—
F. B. Millett
F. B. Millett2
: a mingling of sounds that strike the ear harshly : a mingling of discordant sounds
especially, music
: a clashing or unresolved musical interval or chord
Examples of dissonance in a Sentence
the dissonance between what we are told and what we see with our own eyes
Recent Examples on the Web
On his first album for his own Plastic & Sounds label, the Japanese producer sounds pricklier than ever, lacing hypnotic house and techno with microtonal dissonance and clashing textures.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
There’s a beguiling dissonance between the hushed voiceover and the images of ships carrying cables and dropping them in the ocean for the internet to reach the island.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Conductors often fetishize the opening bars of this opera, their squirmy alternation of silence and piquant dissonance.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
The news points to a dissonance between headlines about the ostensibly relentless march of Chinese AI firms and the challenges those firms face.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissonance
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Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
There’s a beguiling dissonance between the hushed voiceover and the images of ships carrying cables and dropping them in the ocean for the internet to reach the island.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Conductors often fetishize the opening bars of this opera, their squirmy alternation of silence and piquant dissonance.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
The news points to a dissonance between headlines about the ostensibly relentless march of Chinese AI firms and the challenges those firms face.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissonance
Cite this Entry
“Dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissonance. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dissonance
noun
dis·so·nance
ˈdis-ə-nən(t)s
: an unpleasant combination of musical sounds
Medical Definition
dissonance
noun
dis·so·nance
ˈdis-ə-nən(t)s
: inconsistency between the beliefs one holds or between one's actions and one's beliefs see cognitive dissonance
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