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

2

: a mingling of sounds that strike the ear harshly : a mingling of discordant sounds

especially, music : a clashing or unresolved musical interval or chord

Synonyms

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

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

But the dissonance between the current and future U.S. administrations is confusing major players in the Middle East. —Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Dec. 2024

That ironic dissonance between words and music allows the Wolves of Glendale to operate on separate frequencies. —Josh Weiss, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

The initiative's expansion comes at a time when agents report increased emotional dissonance between their duties and public perception. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024

Each helicopter in the distance, each blood-curdling howl, each suspenseful dose of dissonance serves to intensify the film’s mental burden, creating a gut-wrenching abyss of mounting despair that nods to the era, 1978, when Chile was floundering under the hushed state violence of Augusto Pinochet. —Holly Jones, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see dissonant

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing dissonance

• cognitive dissonance

Kids 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