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
The next image creates dissonance and worry: Will the names be erased?
—James Dubinsky, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2025
The recent El Salvador deportations gave rise to some dissonance, too: when the Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen went to the country to check on Abrego Garcia, Salvadoran officials posed them near a hotel pool with drinks that looked like margaritas.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
These shirts often project an image of progressiveness or social awareness without necessarily reflecting a genuine commitment to those values — which creates dissonance.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
Academy Award-winning Steven Soderbergh recently reflected on his latest project, the buzzy and well-reviewed espionage thriller Black Bag, lamenting the dissonance between its critical success versus its lackluster draw at the box office.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dissonance
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James Dubinsky, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2025
The recent El Salvador deportations gave rise to some dissonance, too: when the Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen went to the country to check on Abrego Garcia, Salvadoran officials posed them near a hotel pool with drinks that looked like margaritas.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
These shirts often project an image of progressiveness or social awareness without necessarily reflecting a genuine commitment to those values — which creates dissonance.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
Academy Award-winning Steven Soderbergh recently reflected on his latest project, the buzzy and well-reviewed espionage thriller Black Bag, lamenting the dissonance between its critical success versus its lackluster draw at the box office.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 19 Apr. 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 2 Jun. 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
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