Synonyms of dissension

dissension

noun

di-ˈsen(t)-shən 

variants also dissention

1

as in discord

a lack of agreement or harmony

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discord
• strife
• dissent
• conflict
• war
• warfare
• discordance
• division
• schism
• discordancy
• dispute
• disunity
• disharmony
• friction
• clash
• dissonance
• infighting
• variance
• disunion
• dissidence
• inharmony
• disaccord
• argument
• debate
• disagreement
• contention
• hostility
• quarrel
• competition
• fissure
• altercation
• animosity
• squabble
• inconsistency
• divide
• collision
• enmity
• antagonism
• fight
• falling-out
• rancor
• spat
• incompatibility
• incongruity
• brawl
• tiff
• incongruence
• bicker
• wrangle
• run-in
• antipathy
• row
• inconsistence
• mix-up
• cold war
• ill will
• miff
• hassle
• jar
• scrap
• incongruousness
• inconsonance
• inharmoniousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• agreement
• peace
• harmony
• accord
• cooperation
• concord
• concurrence
• concordance

2

as in dispute

variance of opinion on a matter

continued dissension among historians on the exact spot of Columbus's first landing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dispute
• disagreement
• disputation
• controversy
• debate
• difference
• contention
• contestation
• firestorm
• discord
• difficulty
• dissensus
• nonconcurrence
• dissonance
• misunderstanding
• conflict
• strife
• argument
• clash
• confliction
• collision
• quarrel
• disaccord
• struggle
• division
• altercation
• combat
• falling-out
• apartness
• set-to
• divarication
• fight
• bicker
• kickup

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• agreement
• consensus
• harmony
• unanimity
• acceptance
• accord
• compliance
• peace
• concord

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun dissension contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dissension are conflict, contention, discord, strife, and variance. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Where would conflict be a reasonable alternative to dissension?

The words conflict and dissension are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

When is contention a more appropriate choice than dissension?

The synonyms contention and dissension are sometimes interchangeable, but contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When might discord be a better fit than dissension?

The words discord and dissension can be used in similar contexts, but discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When is it sensible to use strife instead of dissension?

Although the words strife and dissension have much in common, strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

When could variance be used to replace dissension?

The meanings of variance and dissension largely overlap; however, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Examples of dissension in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kofi Kingston and Woods had another brief misunderstanding, suggesting some dissension in the ranks may still exist. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

But the carousel has fostered dissension in the military’s ranks and between the military and Prigozhin’s forces, further undermining Russia’s battlefield performance. —John Herbst, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2023

That dissension was on full display after Rep. Mikie Sherrill became the seventh House Democrat to call on Biden to exit the presidential race. —Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 9 July 2024

With Biden suffering dissension in the Democratic Party ranks (and now with a case of COVID) while Trump is riding a wave of support since his miraculous encounter with a bullet, maybe the ex-president will present a different face tonight. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 July 2024