dis·cord
ˈdi-ˌskȯrd 
1
a
: lack of agreement or harmony (as between persons, things, or ideas)
… must we fall into the jabber and babel of discord while victory is still unattained?—
Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill
b
: active quarreling or conflict resulting from discord among persons or factions : strife
marital discord
discord between the two parties
2
a
music
(1)
: a combination of musical sounds that strikes the ear harshly
(2)
: dissonance
The song ends on a discord.
b
: a harsh or unpleasant sound
dis·cord
ˈdi-ˌskȯrd
di-ˈskȯrd
discorded; discording; discords
Examples of discord in a Sentence
Noun
The city has long been known as a scene of racial intolerance and discord.
The song ends on a discord.
Verb
the evangelist's lavish lifestyle discords with his professed religious beliefs
Recent Examples on the Web
Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
The party is racked by discord over its position on social issues – especially trans rights and, to an only slightly lesser degree, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 15 Mar. 2025
By embracing a mindset that views conflict as a springboard for innovation and by adopting behaviors that facilitate respectful and productive collaboration, teams can transform potential discord into powerful synergy.
—Anna Barnhill, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
The discord in Washington, D.C. amid the early months of Trump’s second term raises the stake that federal workers may be caught in the partisan crossfire if key budget legislation is not in place by midnight on March 14.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discord
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Noun
Beyond the contributions of our honorees, we are all empowered to be peacemakers – to ease the discord and divisiveness in society today.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
The party is racked by discord over its position on social issues – especially trans rights and, to an only slightly lesser degree, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 15 Mar. 2025
By embracing a mindset that views conflict as a springboard for innovation and by adopting behaviors that facilitate respectful and productive collaboration, teams can transform potential discord into powerful synergy.
—Anna Barnhill, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
The discord in Washington, D.C. amid the early months of Trump’s second term raises the stake that federal workers may be caught in the partisan crossfire if key budget legislation is not in place by midnight on March 14.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discord
Cite this Entry
“Discord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discord. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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