as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds
a dissonant chorus of noises arose from the busy construction site
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Recent Examples of dissonant
Salome, in the grisly final scene, reasserts a degree of tonal stability, but dissonant uproar resumes when Herod commands her death.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
As the title suggests, the songs are not only melancholic but, at times, dissonant.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
The creatively dissonant effort drove a nearly 10% month-over-month increase in store brand sales and a 12% increase across the category; expanded 7-Eleven’s in-house creative agency, producing campaigns faster and cheaper, all while also reducing plastic bag usage by 37%.
—Seth Matlins, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
The book cover, showing a happy couple on a beach accompanied by a dog with a stick in its mouth, seems cheerily dissonant.
—Julio Ojeda-Zapata, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dissonant
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
As the title suggests, the songs are not only melancholic but, at times, dissonant.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
The creatively dissonant effort drove a nearly 10% month-over-month increase in store brand sales and a 12% increase across the category; expanded 7-Eleven’s in-house creative agency, producing campaigns faster and cheaper, all while also reducing plastic bag usage by 37%.
—Seth Matlins, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
The book cover, showing a happy couple on a beach accompanied by a dog with a stick in its mouth, seems cheerily dissonant.
—Julio Ojeda-Zapata, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dissonant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissonant
Adjective
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The orchestration is a touch grotesque, with the first violins given a shrill D two octaves above middle C.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
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Still, the shrill alarm that echoed on Friday morning as Israel announced airstrikes on neighboring Iran gave her that familiar feeling.—
Isabel Rivera,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
These creatures can be very noisy, but there's a purpose.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
22 July 2025
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There are also elements that people tend to notice only when things go wrong, like if a restaurant is too noisy.—
Sofia Perez,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Apart from the occasional timid car—and the less timid, cacophonous crows—the East Nashville community appeared to be following weather warnings and taking advantage of the cozy Friday at home.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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As ovaries decline, hormones change, and a harmonious symphony can turn into a cacophonous noise, impacting the entire body.—
Karina Zaiets,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
There are telltale signs that there's too much moisture in your house, from condensation to unpleasant odors.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
17 July 2025
-
Set a Timer For particularly difficult or unpleasant tasks, set a timer for a short duration—for example, five to 30 minutes—and commit to working on that task until the time is up.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
Curtis ultimately wins out; Yesterday is sugary-sweet in a way that’s discordant with most of the rest of Boyle’s filmography.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
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But dreams can easily turn into nightmares, and this particular lullaby is more than a little discordant.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Spencer's hair was styled by David Von Cannon and the two landed on loose, unfussy, undone waves for a cool contrast against her strapless metallic silver gown.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
17 July 2025
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For example, neutral shades are often included in metallic or matte finishes.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Those songs remind Omara of real people and real events, political interludes whose senselessness and brutality have left unmusical lacunae in her life.—
Vinson Cunningham,
The New Yorker,
18 Dec. 2023
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His parents were unmusical Russian-Jewish immigrants who ran various businesses with mixed success.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
3 Oct. 2019
Adjective
-
Setting Discordant Personal Goals A 2023 study published in Current Psychology finds that partners’ inharmonious goals can have detrimental effects on relationships.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
29 Mar. 2024
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For sixteen hours a week, Valentine hopes to share some melody in a place that, for some, can feel inharmonious.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
24 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Dissonant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissonant. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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