noun
dissonance
DIH-suh-nuhns
noun
1
A harsh or unpleasant combination of sounds; lack of musical harmony.
"The composer used dissonance deliberately to create tension."
2
A state of disagreement or conflict between ideas, beliefs, or actions.
"She felt a deep cognitive dissonance between her values and her job."
How to Use Dissonance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishClashing sounds, or a clash between conflicting ideas or feelings.
Common pairings
cognitive dissonance
musical dissonance
create dissonance
Word Forms
dissonances plural
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The composer used _____ deliberately to create tension.
Etymology
From Latin dissonantia, from dis- + sonare ("to sound").