discord 1 of 2

discord

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verb

as in to conflict
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably the evangelist's lavish lifestyle discords with his professed religious beliefs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun discord contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of discord are conflict, contention, dissension, strife, and variance. While all these words 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

When can conflict be used instead of discord?

The words conflict and discord can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When is it sensible to use contention instead of discord?

The meanings of contention and discord largely overlap; however, contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When would dissension be a good substitute for discord?

In some situations, the words dissension and discord are roughly equivalent. However, dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

When could strife be used to replace discord?

While the synonyms strife and discord are close in meaning, 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

When is variance a more appropriate choice than discord?

Although the words variance and discord have much in common, 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

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 discord
Noun
Like This Moore drew powerful parallels between Lincoln University’s founding in 1854, during a period of intense national discord, and today’s challenges. Melissa Noel, Essence, 5 May 2025 Focus on broadening your outlook, skills and pursuits and pouring your energy into actions rather than discord. Eugenia Last, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2025 Image In the absence of more substantive meetings, Mr. Trump’s every handshake and conversation was scrutinized for political significance at a moment of trans-Atlantic discord. David E. Sanger, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025 That was as close as Mrs. Obama got to directly addressing the rumors of marital discord. Claire Moses, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for discord
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discord
Noun
  • Image His support for Mr. Trump has led Tesla’s sales to plummet and has caused strife within his companies, as some employees have taken the rare step of speaking out against their chief executive’s political activity.
    Theodore Schleifer, New York Times, 20 May 2025
  • In 1961-1962, the U.S. political climate was icy, amid escalating strife with the Soviet Union, but there was a warmth emanating from the burgeoning counterculture movement.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • These aims are challenging and often conflict with one another.
    Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • The outlook has been further clouded by Europe’s reluctance to expand its energy delivery infrastructure to receive more Azerbaijani gas exports—a step that some member states see as conflicting with the bloc’s ambitious climate goals.
    Zaur Shiriyev, Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Han and Li’s student-teacher relationship in particular is diluted and lacks necessary grounding, and there’s little compelling friction between the two masters to make up for it.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 28 May 2025
  • Eldest and youngest formed a bond that would survive decades of friction over principles and tactics.
    Dan Morrison, USA Today, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • The pair clashed when discussing efforts for a Russia-Ukraine cease-fire.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 25 May 2025
  • SmackDown’s two colossal stars clashed in a fantastic steel cage match that ideally will end one of WWE’s lengthiest feuds.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • Editors’ Picks An editor at Fast Company, a magazine about business, technology and design, was among the first to notice the discordance.
    Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 4 May 2025
  • Sachs plays on the discordance between his naturalistic approach and the theatricality of the project with meta elements like a quick glimpse of the crew or posed shots of the actors occasionally punctuating the conversation, accompanied by blasts of Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The gap between swimsuit and swim shorts may not strike many as a meaningful sartorial schism.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 16 May 2025
  • In Nixon in China, the aggrieved president is heartfelt about healing a global schism.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • In 2016 the pair released some in-progress footage from the film, in which Ophuls journeys to Tel Aviv in the midst of the war to interview Israelis, including West Bank settler leaders, and other pro-Israel visitors who espouse racist views on camera.
    Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
  • Trump’s criticism of Putin comes after Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Ukraine since the start of the war, in which more than 360 drones and missiles hit Ukraine and at least 12 people died, the Associated Press reported.
    Molly Bohannon, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • One-sided judgments, whether celebrations or condemnations, are met by dissent within the profession.
    James T. Kloppenberg, Time, 28 May 2025
  • Seed dissent Make sure your groups have people that will dissent – and protect them.
    George Bradt, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Discord.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discord. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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