dissonance
The dissonance between the team's goals and management's decisions caused frustration.
The mismatch between what the team wanted and what leaders decided led to unhappiness.
A lack of agreement or harmony between people, ideas, or things.
There was a noticeable dissonance in the orchestra's performance.
The musicians played notes that didn't sound smooth together.
The dissonance between her beliefs and her actions surprised everyone.
People were shocked because her words didn't match what she did.
Often used in psychology to describe mental discomfort from conflicting beliefs or values.
In music, a combination of sounds that are harsh or unpleasant together.
The composer used dissonance to create tension in the piece.
The musician deliberately played clashing notes to evoke unease.
Contrast with 'consonance', which refers to harmonious sounds.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'dissonant'
'Dissonance' is the noun; 'dissonant' is the adjective (e.g., 'a dissonant chord').
Gold Rule
Use 'dissonance' for abstract conflicts
Reserve for ideas, beliefs, or social situations. For literal sounds, specify 'musical dissonance' or 'auditory dissonance'.
Word Origin
From Latin 'dissonantia', meaning 'discord' (dis- 'apart' + sonare 'to sound'). First used in English in the 15th century to describe musical discord, later extended to social and psychological contexts.
Usage Notes
Common in academic and professional writing, particularly in psychology, music theory, and social sciences. Avoid using as a verb ('to dissonate' is rare and non-standard).