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The root of "dissonant" is the Latin verb sonare. Can you guess what "sonare" means? Here's a hint: some related derivatives are "sonata," "supersonic," and "resonance." Does it sound to you as if "sonare" has something to do with sound? If so, you're right. In fact, sonare means "to sound, is related to the Latin noun sonus (meaning "sound"), and is an ancestor of the English word sound. "Dissonant" includes the negative prefix dis-. What is "dissonant," therefore, sounds inharmonic, conflicting, or clashing.
Synonyms
Examples of dissonant in a Sentence
a dissonant chorus of noises arose from the busy construction site
Recent Examples on the Web
The growling in the intro, the very advanced, dissonant piano parts and the crazy vocal performance ended me.
—
Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 30 Jan. 2025
Until recently, there was nothing dissonant about the fact that the heart of Silicon Valley is represented in the House by one of the most progressive members of Congress, Ro Khanna, a close ally of Bernie Sanders.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
Nobody went to see the movie, and the score is unflinchingly dissonant.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
These songs all have a beautiful sadness to them and have a pop mentality, but there is always something dissonant or tense about them at times, musically.
—Liza Lentini, SPIN, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dissonant 
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Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 30 Jan. 2025
Until recently, there was nothing dissonant about the fact that the heart of Silicon Valley is represented in the House by one of the most progressive members of Congress, Ro Khanna, a close ally of Bernie Sanders.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
Nobody went to see the movie, and the score is unflinchingly dissonant.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
These songs all have a beautiful sadness to them and have a pop mentality, but there is always something dissonant or tense about them at times, musically.
—Liza Lentini, SPIN, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dissonant
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Dictionary Entries Near dissonant
Cite this Entry
“Dissonant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissonant. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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