1
as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds
discordant tones coming from the poorly tuned instrument
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in noisy
making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds
the discordant cries of gulls fighting over the fishing boat's castoffs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a troubled, discordant family that would benefit from professional counseling
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4
as in conflicting
not being in agreement or harmony
his views on the proper role of diet in maintaining good health are certainly discordant with most contemporary opinions on the subject
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discordant
His images are discordant — wild predators roaming concrete canyons.
—
Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 20 May 2025
As institutions fractured, migratory movements pushed not from Africa to Europe, but from Europe to Africa, and a new order began to emerge, Augustine interpreted the signs of discordant times.
—Anna Rowlands, Time, 12 May 2025
Francis’s revision of Catholic teaching on the death penalty, though in continuity with recent predecessors, struck many Catholics as discordant with earlier teaching.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 Apr. 2025
Ultimately, the only discordant note in a win that was simultaneously the 50th of Sirianni’s career and 300th in the ownership tenure of Jeffrey Lurie came from Jake Elliott, who missed a 39-yard field goal attempt in the first half.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Catie Edmondson, New York Times, 20 May 2025
As institutions fractured, migratory movements pushed not from Africa to Europe, but from Europe to Africa, and a new order began to emerge, Augustine interpreted the signs of discordant times.
—Anna Rowlands, Time, 12 May 2025
Francis’s revision of Catholic teaching on the death penalty, though in continuity with recent predecessors, struck many Catholics as discordant with earlier teaching.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 Apr. 2025
Ultimately, the only discordant note in a win that was simultaneously the 50th of Sirianni’s career and 300th in the ownership tenure of Jeffrey Lurie came from Jake Elliott, who missed a 39-yard field goal attempt in the first half.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discordant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discordant
Adjective
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The males climb up trees and produce their shrill songs en masse, using muscles to vibrate a rigid part of their exoskeletons called tymbals.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
30 May 2025
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Their bathroom floor also pooled with water after showering, and noise from other apartments, like the shrill beeps of a low-battery smoke detector next door, carried through the paper-thin walls.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That means that for years, garbage trucks had to back down this dead end to make pickups -- a regular, noisy nuisance.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 June 2025
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Swapping in the wrong kind could slightly reduce your range or make the ride noisier.—
Melanie Marshall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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But even in Alberta, a province that has favored development, the legacy policies are still likely not aggressive enough to meet the moment.—
Mark Le Dain,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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The direct heat from the iron’s metal plate can be too aggressive on delicates but necessary for more structured or heavy-duty materials.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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Maria Shriver Calls Chris Pratt 'a Great Member of Our Family' for His 'Spiritual and Kind' Nature Amazon Prime Video's The Terminal List follows a Navy SEAL who returns home with conflicting memories after his platoon is ambushed on a covert mission.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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That’s because Coughlan has to reconcile two conflicting aspects of her character.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Roberts brought in dissonant strings and brass for the K2 battle droids.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
29 May 2025
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Less an adaptation than a dissonant echo of Carrollian logic, Alice is a marvel of handmade horror that channels the darker currents of adolescent imagination and, not unlike Us, treats the inner life of a child not as an innocent refuge but as haunted terrain.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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The aid group accused Hamas of carrying out the assault; the militant group has not yet responded to the allegations.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
12 June 2025
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Some activists have been criticized for spreading messages seen as antisemitic or outright supportive of militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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The Royals’ offense has been inconsistent this season.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2025
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Without clear boundaries, AI agents may act in ways that are inconsistent with business rules, brand voice or regulatory requirements.—
Alan Ranger,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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Setting Discordant Personal Goals A 2023 study published in Current Psychology finds that partners’ inharmonious goals can have detrimental effects on relationships.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
29 Mar. 2024
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For sixteen hours a week, Valentine hopes to share some melody in a place that, for some, can feel inharmonious.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
24 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Discordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discordant. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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