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dissonant

adjective
dis·​so·​nant | \ ˈdi-sə-nənt How to pronounce dissonant (audio) \

Definition of dissonant

1 : marked by dissonance : discordant
2 : incongruous
3 : harmonically unresolved
Other Words from dissonant Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about dissonant

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Other Words from dissonant

dissonantly adverb

Did You Know?

The root of "dissonant" is the Latin verb sonare. Can you guess what "sonare" means? Here's a hint: some related derivatives are "sonata," "supersonic," and "resonance." Does it sound to you as if "sonare" has something to do with sound? If so, you're right. In fact, sonare means "to sound, is related to the Latin noun sonus (meaning "sound"), and is an ancestor of the English word sound. "Dissonant" includes the negative prefix dis-. What is "dissonant," therefore, sounds inharmonic, conflicting, or clashing.

Examples of dissonant in a Sentence

a dissonant chorus of noises arose from the busy construction site

Recent Examples on the Web

 Then there are the dissonant piano chords, the 808s and dramatic strings. — Raisa Bruner, Time, "Music Experts Explain Why the Succession Theme Song Is So Memorable," 30 Aug. 2019 Their collaboration built positive buzz, but a month and a half before the album’s release, a dissonant chord sounded. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Sleater-Kinney Lost Its Chaos Before It Lost Its Drummer," 16 Aug. 2019 During the Vietnam War, Jimi Hendrix twisted the tune into a dissonant wail. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, "The “Star-Spangled Banner” Controversy That Altered the Course of American Music," 2 July 2019 With the exceptions of Charles Ives’ Largo for Violin, Clarinet and Piano — the most conventionally dissonant piece — and Kimberly Osberg’s Interplay, the music was mostly rooted in a tonal language that employed jazz and folk idioms. — Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, "Clarinet trio shines in opening concert at Dallas’ Basically Beethoven Festival," 12 July 2019 Horns have two notes, which is what creates that dissonant horn sound. — Ray Magliozzi, courant.com, "Car Talk: Give your small car the horn it deserves," 15 July 2019 Anything that is dissonant information should be rejected. — David Montgomery, Washington Post, "John Kasich: ‘I think members of the Republican Party are in a coma right now’," 2 July 2019 The series has also not been shy about tackling the conflict between religiously conservative ideology and LGBTQ+ acceptance — embodied by Rob McElhenney’s dopey, cognitively dissonant Mac. — Daniel Menegaz, EW.com, "Why It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and star Rob McElhenney deserve Emmys," 24 June 2019 The insult sparks a loud, dissonant chord that sets the opera in motion with a chugging, Sondheimian rhythm and restless momentum, vigorously conducted by Carolyn Kuan. — Joshua Barone, New York Times, "Review: A ‘Stonewall’ Opera Reflects the Diversity of Queer History," 23 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dissonant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of dissonant

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for dissonant

Middle English dissonaunte, from Latin dissonant-, dissonans, present participle of dissonare to be discordant, from dis- + sonare to sound — more at sound entry 1

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More Definitions for dissonant

dissonant

adjective
How to pronounce dissonant (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of dissonant

formal : not in agreement with something
music : not in harmony

See the full definition for dissonant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on dissonant

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dissonant

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