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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
This wealth of discordant data means some evolutionary connections remain unclear, especially within perennial Dicerandra.
—
Andre A. Naranjo, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
Over a pleasantly discordant score of dreamy electronic chords and twanging banjos, Matthew finds pencil marks charting his growth as a child while these parents fuss over their own new baby.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025
The film’s score is, by turns, delicate and bold, flowing and discordant, unrepentantly experimental, and an echo of the grandeur of Hollywood.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2025
Yet, for all its savvy reinvention of show tunes, the production’s handling of race strikes a discordant note.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Andre A. Naranjo, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2025
Over a pleasantly discordant score of dreamy electronic chords and twanging banjos, Matthew finds pencil marks charting his growth as a child while these parents fuss over their own new baby.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025
The film’s score is, by turns, delicate and bold, flowing and discordant, unrepentantly experimental, and an echo of the grandeur of Hollywood.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2025
Yet, for all its savvy reinvention of show tunes, the production’s handling of race strikes a discordant note.
—Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discordant
Adjective
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There are many reasons to visit New Orleans, from po' boys filled with heaps of fried shrimp spilling out of pillowy soft French bread, the shrill trills of brass trumpets, and the constant bustle of revelers across the city.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2025
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He’s gone up higher for other roles before, like his shrill turn as a rotten southern preacher in The Devil All the Time and his sassy French accent in The King.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Budgerigars are both impressive vocal mimics and also have complex vocalizations called warbles that are a mix of noisy and harmonic calls.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
19 Mar. 2025
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Trapped in bed, in a noisy room or hallway, under the fluorescent lighting of the hospital all day and night, these children experience more stress, dissatisfaction, fear and distrust of the system.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump prompts a more aggressive digital posture Democrats adopted a more combative stance online in recent weeks as Trump’s moves to slash the federal workforce drew protests from liberals and pushback at GOP town halls.—
Matt Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
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As a result, teams are taking a more aggressive approach.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Iran’s 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has mocked Trump, but officials in his country also have offered conflicting signals over whether negotiations could take place.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2025
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This principle holds for both the great peace accords of history, such as those that followed World War II, and the smaller settlements, such as Italy and Yugoslavia’s resolution of their conflicting claims to Trieste.—
G. John Ikenberry,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There’s no denying the fact that Severance (nearing the end of its sophomore season on Apple TV+) has refined priceless television gold from dissonant contradiction.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Thus, the best skinny jeans will boast a lower front rise and a slightly higher back rise to accommodate the dissonant sitting and standing coverage requirements.—
BestReviews,
The Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Israel launched its military assault on Gaza after the militant group Hamas killed at least 1,200 people in Israel and abducted more than 250 others on October 7, 2023.—
Don Riddell,
CNN,
19 Mar. 2025
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Why did the ceasefire break down? Both Israel and the Trump administration have blamed Hamas for the resumption of hostilities, citing the militant group's refusal to meet Israel's demand to release more hostages in return for the resumption of talks.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC News,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But without a strong messaging foundation, those pieces can feel scattered, inconsistent, or even contradictory.—
Rhea Wessel,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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His current form may be inconsistent at best, but Finau believes the best results of his career are still ahead of him.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 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 1 Apr. 2025.
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