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
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
Another reason for the dissonance may be financial.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 20 Feb. 2025
As usual with the director’s work, a full-bodied, mood-shifting score by his younger brother Jed Kurzel is a major contribution, particularly unsettling in its use of dissonance in the Thai scenes.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
The city services are overrun, but governments also lie about the numbers and solutions, which causes dissonance as far as what the collective responsibility is in our city and who should be worrying about these things to meet the needs of specific families, which can be immense.
—Stuart Miller, Orange County Register, 12 Feb. 2025
Vestiges of her classical training—Twigs cannot abandon the harp—are forced to make dissonance with manic handclaps and stuttering vocal tuning.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dissonance
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 20 Feb. 2025
As usual with the director’s work, a full-bodied, mood-shifting score by his younger brother Jed Kurzel is a major contribution, particularly unsettling in its use of dissonance in the Thai scenes.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
The city services are overrun, but governments also lie about the numbers and solutions, which causes dissonance as far as what the collective responsibility is in our city and who should be worrying about these things to meet the needs of specific families, which can be immense.
—Stuart Miller, Orange County Register, 12 Feb. 2025
Vestiges of her classical training—Twigs cannot abandon the harp—are forced to make dissonance with manic handclaps and stuttering vocal tuning.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dissonance
Cite this Entry
“Dissonance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissonance. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share