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dissonant
/ˈdɪs.ən.ənt/
lacking harmony
The band's dissonant chords made the audience cringe.
The music sounded harsh and unpleasing due to clashing notes.
formal
lacking harmony or agreement in sound, ideas, or elements
The choir's dissonant notes ruined the performance.
The singers' voices clashed, creating an unpleasant sound.
Her dissonant views clashed with the team's consensus.
Her opinions were completely at odds with the group's.
Often used in music, psychology, and social contexts.
Collocations
dissonant chordsmusical notes that sound harsh togetherdissonant opinionsviews that conflict with others
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 'consonant'
'Dissonant' implies harshness or conflict, while 'consonant' means in agreement or harmony. Remember: 'consonant' shares the root with 'sound together'.
Gold Rule
Use in music contexts
Use 'dissonant' to describe clashing musical notes or sounds, e.g., 'The composer used dissonant chords to create tension.'
Word Origin
From Latin *dissonant-*, present participle of *dissonare* 'to sound apart', from *dis-* 'apart' + *sonare* 'to sound'.
Usage Notes
Common in formal writing and music theory. Avoid in casual speech where 'clashing' or 'conflicting' may be more natural.
Word Breakdown
dis-
apart, not
prefix-son-
sound
root-ant
characterized by
suffixEnglish Dictionary