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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.
Examples of dissonant in a Sentence
a dissonant chorus of noises arose from the busy construction site
Recent Examples on the Web
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ pristine, industrial synth-forward score adds a fittingly dissonant soundscape with melodies that blossom once the pair’s relationship takes shape.
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Courtney Howard, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025
His first two albums, the glitter-rave of Osama Season and the starkly dissonant Flex Musix, were entirely solo except for the beatmakers.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 12 Feb. 2025
The visual scheme is deliberately dissonant, with the bold primary colors of the costumes and the set dressing clashing against drab, gray, real-life backgrounds.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
These dissonant elements have been in the DNA of Short n’ Sweet from the start.
—Abby Aguirre, Vogue, 11 Feb. 2025
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Courtney Howard, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025
His first two albums, the glitter-rave of Osama Season and the starkly dissonant Flex Musix, were entirely solo except for the beatmakers.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 12 Feb. 2025
The visual scheme is deliberately dissonant, with the bold primary colors of the costumes and the set dressing clashing against drab, gray, real-life backgrounds.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
These dissonant elements have been in the DNA of Short n’ Sweet from the start.
—Abby Aguirre, Vogue, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dissonant
Articles Related to dissonant
Cite this Entry
“Dissonant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissonant. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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