Dissonance
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈdɪsənəns/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Dissonance is a noun meaning (countable, uncountable) A harsh, discordant combination of sounds.
Meaning
(countable, uncountable) A harsh, discordant combination of sounds.
More Meanings
- (music) Conflicting notes that are not overtones of the note or chord sounding.
- (uncountable) A state of disagreement or conflict.
- (countable) An instance of that state.
Example Sentences
Cognitive dissonance exists when a person possesses two cognitions, one of which is contradictory to the other
In this polyphony of images in the unconscious which is beyond and outside historical time, there are complex harmonies but no dissonances: the images do not clash, but that, of course, is an aesthetic judgment and not a scientific one.
Word Forms
- dissonances
Synonyms for dissonance
Depending on context, synonyms include cacophony, discordance, discord, disharmony, disjunction, dispute.
Antonyms for dissonance
Common opposites include consonance, concordance, concord, harmony.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include noise, racket, cacophony, discordance, inconsistency, discrepancy.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.