1
as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds
discordant tones coming from the poorly tuned instrument
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in noisy
making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds
the discordant cries of gulls fighting over the fishing boat's castoffs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a troubled, discordant family that would benefit from professional counseling
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4
as in conflicting
not being in agreement or harmony
his views on the proper role of diet in maintaining good health are certainly discordant with most contemporary opinions on the subject
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discordant
Ultimately, the only discordant note in a win that was simultaneously the 50th of Sirianni’s career and 300th in the ownership tenure of Jeffrey Lurie came from Jake Elliott, who missed a 39-yard field goal attempt in the first half.
—
Howard Megdal, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Partners in crime and brothers forged in bonds that run thicker than blood, Ray and Manny part ways on a tragic, discordant note.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
The play’s piano-and-strings compositions, by Grant Olding, closely recall Nicholas Britell’s discordant TV soundtrack; Richard wears sumptuous suits and velvet loafers without socks, then goes to prison in comfy gray sweats, sporting quiet luxury to the end.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
On a day that had long been in the books as a tribute to Kevin Keegan, the manager who saved the club from oblivion, dragged it into the Premier League and opened up a world of possibilities, there was a discordant kind of symmetry.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Howard Megdal, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Partners in crime and brothers forged in bonds that run thicker than blood, Ray and Manny part ways on a tragic, discordant note.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
The play’s piano-and-strings compositions, by Grant Olding, closely recall Nicholas Britell’s discordant TV soundtrack; Richard wears sumptuous suits and velvet loafers without socks, then goes to prison in comfy gray sweats, sporting quiet luxury to the end.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
On a day that had long been in the books as a tribute to Kevin Keegan, the manager who saved the club from oblivion, dragged it into the Premier League and opened up a world of possibilities, there was a discordant kind of symmetry.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discordant
Adjective
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Their bathroom floor also pooled with water after showering, and noise from other apartments, like the shrill beeps of a low-battery smoke detector next door, carried through the paper-thin walls.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
22 Apr. 2025
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As such, The Studio is shrill and talky, its chaotic scenes sparked by random performers like Charlize Theron, Zac Efron, Olivia Wilde and Sarah Polley, all of whom want something from Remick.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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At a 78th Cannes, which on the party side wasn’t as noisy as previous ones with drone shows (2022’s Elvis) and Elton John performing on the beach (2019’s Rocketman), leave it to amfAR‘s 31st fashionista blowout Cannes Gala at Hotel Du Cap at Eden Roc to steal the show.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
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Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Nonprofits focused on such issues could be seen as antagonistic to the company’s aggressive commercialization efforts.—
Hayden Field,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
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The 82-year-old was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men, with 1 in 8 being diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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With the textured hair care space full of conflicting information, cutting through the noise is becoming more difficult than the routine itself.—
India Espy-Jones,
Essence,
27 May 2025
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Many participants with conflicting ideologies also reported cohabiting peacefully for the most part, while being careful not to bring up divisive topics and focus on their similarities instead.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Less an adaptation than a dissonant echo of Carrollian logic, Alice is a marvel of handmade horror that channels the darker currents of adolescent imagination and, not unlike Us, treats the inner life of a child not as an innocent refuge but as haunted terrain.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
21 May 2025
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Salome, in the grisly final scene, reasserts a degree of tonal stability, but dissonant uproar resumes when Herod commands her death.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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The ceasefire plan, which has been approved by Israeli officials, won a cool initial reaction Thursday from the militant group, but President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiators were nearing a deal.—
ABDEL KAREEM HANA,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2025
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In response to the vote, Iraqi troops retook vast swathes of territory seized by Kurdish forces during their joint fight against the Islamic State militant group (ISIS).—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Frustrated by long 311 hold times or inconsistent trash pickup?—
Melanie La Rocca,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
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This is at odds with the concept of getting the most out of every customer deal by wielding inconsistent discounts and surcharges when certain situations arise.—
Chris Mele,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Setting Discordant Personal Goals A 2023 study published in Current Psychology finds that partners’ inharmonious goals can have detrimental effects on relationships.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
29 Mar. 2024
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For sixteen hours a week, Valentine hopes to share some melody in a place that, for some, can feel inharmonious.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
24 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Discordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discordant. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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