dissonance
4 synonyms and 1 antonym for dissonance, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A harsh or unpleasant combination of sounds; lack of musical harmony.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use dissonance
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
cognitive dissonance
musical dissonance
create dissonance
Etymology
From Latin dissonantia, from dis- + sonare ("to sound").
Full origin of dissonance →Frequently asked questions
What does “dissonance” mean?
The word “dissonance” means a harsh or unpleasant combination of sounds; lack of musical harmony. In plain terms, clashing sounds, or a clash between conflicting ideas or feelings.
How do you pronounce “dissonance”?
“Dissonance” is pronounced DIH-suh-nuhns (/ˈdɪsənəns/ in IPA).
How do you use “dissonance” in a sentence?
Here is “dissonance” used in a sentence: “The composer used dissonance deliberately to create tension.”
What part of speech is “dissonance”?
“Dissonance” is a noun.
Where does the word “dissonance” come from?
The word “dissonance” comes from Latin. From Latin dissonantia, from dis- + sonare ("to sound").
How many meanings does “dissonance” have?
“Dissonance” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a harsh or unpleasant combination of sounds; lack of musical harmony.
