Advertisement
Advertisement
dissonance
[dis-uh-nuhns]
noun
inharmonious or harsh sound; discord; cacophony.
Music.
a simultaneous combination of tones conventionally accepted as being in a state of unrest and needing completion.
an unresolved, discordant chord or interval.
disagreement or incongruity.
dissonance
/ ˈɪəəԲ /
noun
a discordant combination of sounds
lack of agreement or consistency
music
a sensation commonly associated with all intervals of the second and seventh, all diminished and augmented intervals, and all chords based on these intervals Compare consonance
an interval or chord of this kind
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of dissonance1
Example Sentences
Today, many voters experience a kind of cognitive dissonance: They support abortion rights or paid sick leave at the ballot box but continue voting for politicians who oppose those policies.
If Tesfaye’s new film, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” is to be believed, the singer has been struggling just as much with reconciling that dissonance as his adoring public has.
Some of the photographs are arranged in a grid, though the dissonance between them — one square depicting a table from inches away, another from across the room — creates an ethereality, a wind within the frame.
In 2023, the discount retailer Five Below went full cognitive dissonance with its new “Five Beyond” brand, featuring items priced above $5.
Note the last word in that sentence, and you’ll spot the dissonance between HBO’s statement and the reality of the situation.
Advertisement
Related 51Թs
When To Use
Dissonance is harsh, inharmonious noise—cacophony.It can also refer to stark disagreement or lack of consistency.In both cases, a close synonym is discord.In the context of music, the word dissonance is used in a specific way to refer to a combination of sounds thought to be inharmonious (often ones intentionally composed to be so). It can also refer to a chord or interval that features such disharmony.In music and in general, dissonance is the opposite of consonance, which means harmony, agreement, or accord.In psychology, the term cognitive dissonance refers to the unease a person feels when they have two or more contradictory or incompatible beliefs.An adjective form of dissonance is dissonant.Example: Leaders in both factions of the party promised harmony, but so far there has been nothing but dissonance and constant arguing.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse
