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
F. B. Millett2
: 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
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
Of course, that dissonance between her look and sound also brought out detractors, unwilling to take a young girl like Trickz seriously as a rapper.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2024
Her fascination with the dissonance between the self and online presentation comes from having a very public career from a young age.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
Key among players’ worries was that the Amazon series would be a gritty, boilerplate crime drama bereft of the tonal dissonance fans have come to love from the game’s wacky, melodramatic soap opera.
—Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024
Business leaders must align their public persona with their private selves or risk unethical behavior stemming from this dissonance.
—Gabriel McCurtis, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dissonance 
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Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2024
Her fascination with the dissonance between the self and online presentation comes from having a very public career from a young age.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
Key among players’ worries was that the Amazon series would be a gritty, boilerplate crime drama bereft of the tonal dissonance fans have come to love from the game’s wacky, melodramatic soap opera.
—Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024
Business leaders must align their public persona with their private selves or risk unethical behavior stemming from this dissonance.
—Gabriel McCurtis, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dissonance
Dictionary Entries Near dissonance
Cite this Entry
“Dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissonance. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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