cognitive dissonance

noun

: psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes held simultaneously

Examples of cognitive dissonance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Ultimately, this entire plot point was all about cognitive dissonance and Heather and Whitney’s ability to compartmentalize and separate their feelings about Mormonism with their support for their friend. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2024 Win or lose, though, animal advocates will still face the wearying task of trying to bridge the public’s cognitive dissonance about where our meat comes from and channel it productively into politics. Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 10 Oct. 2024 Though Active Greens are a relatively small segment — fewer than one in five consumers fall into this category — our advice to companies is to recognize the cognitive dissonance that many feel when making purchases. Forrester, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 Human brains are hard-wired to reduce cognitive dissonance and preserve self-esteem. David M. Edelstein, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2015 See all Example Sentences for cognitive dissonance 

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cognitive dissonance was in 1957

Dictionary Entries Near cognitive dissonance

Cite this Entry

“Cognitive dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cognitive%20dissonance. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

cognitive dissonance

noun
: psychological conflict resulting from simultaneously held incongruous beliefs and attitudes (as a fondness for smoking and a belief that it is harmful)

More from Merriam-Webster on cognitive dissonance

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