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
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
Kancheli plays with dissonance in the music, yet a melancholy sweetness prevails throughout.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 11 Oct. 2024
These politicians instead will continue in dissonance, encouraging their supporters to hum louder than the other choir.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dissonance 
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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
Kancheli plays with dissonance in the music, yet a melancholy sweetness prevails throughout.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 11 Oct. 2024
These politicians instead will continue in dissonance, encouraging their supporters to hum louder than the other choir.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 2 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 5 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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