as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds
a dissonant chorus of noises arose from the busy construction site
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 dissonant
Centuries of grime has been wiped away to reveal an immaculate but aesthetically dissonant house of worship: a Gothic church that glistens.
—
Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
Just as the concert’s success depends on most musicians playing correctly despite a few dissonant notes, a blockchain’s integrity relies on honest nodes reaching consensus even when some nodes fail or act maliciously.
—Gary Weinstein, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
The storytelling is entertainingly confident but tonally dissonant, though Baker stirs a host of strong performances for his disparate characters, especially Mikey Madison as the sassy Cinderella of this story and Yura Borisov as an endearing henchman.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
The dissonant hoover synths seethe like Bernard Herrmann strings — echoing the lyrics’ references to Hitchcock’s Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dissonant 
Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
Just as the concert’s success depends on most musicians playing correctly despite a few dissonant notes, a blockchain’s integrity relies on honest nodes reaching consensus even when some nodes fail or act maliciously.
—Gary Weinstein, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
The storytelling is entertainingly confident but tonally dissonant, though Baker stirs a host of strong performances for his disparate characters, especially Mikey Madison as the sassy Cinderella of this story and Yura Borisov as an endearing henchman.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
The dissonant hoover synths seethe like Bernard Herrmann strings — echoing the lyrics’ references to Hitchcock’s Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window.
—Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dissonant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissonant
Adjective
-
His near-angelic vocals still hold the power to mesmerize — and evoke shrill screams of delight.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
-
And of course, the shrill response to these claims from the political left was also typical and expected.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
If your exhaust fan is still noisy after cleaning, this could indicate loose screws or a problem with the motor.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2025
-
If there’s a slightly noisier spot (or spots) in the apartment, that is another indicator of gaps that might allow smells to seep in and could benefit from sealant, says Arianna Deane, an architect and A+A+A cofounder.—
Diana Budds,
Architectural Digest,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
But with the emergence of digital media, today's cacophonous environment features billions of podcasts, blogs, streaming channels, and social media influencer accounts that each cater to micro-viewerships with zero editorial oversight or accountability.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
-
There is a primordial quality to the woods that oscillates between cacophonous forest chatter and eerie silence in the space of a ridge or two.—
Laura Lancaster,
Outdoor Life,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Based on the negative reaction from the crowd, the CBS late night host acknowledged that unpleasant feelings abound.—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Jan. 2025
-
While wildly unpleasant, most people affected with norovirus see their symptoms resolve within a few days, the Mayo Clinic says.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Hancock creates a cognitive dissonance by juxtaposing the romanticized past and the cutting-edge technology of the present, placing the audience into a discordant environment.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
22 Jan. 2025
-
By venting online, this discordant energy between anger and resignation can be expressed.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The singer and K-pop star’s look also featured small, subtle pieces of silver metallic hardware on the sleeve.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
21 Jan. 2025
-
The undertaking returned the car to its original Le Mans race spec, including taking it back to that striking metallic silver hue and bright blue interior.—
Howard Walker,
Robb Report,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Those songs remind Omara of real people and real events, political interludes whose senselessness and brutality have left unmusical lacunae in her life.—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2023
-
His parents were unmusical Russian-Jewish immigrants who ran various businesses with mixed success.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
3 Oct. 2019
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Thesaurus Entries Near dissonant
Cite this Entry
“Dissonant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissonant. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share