Dissonance: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Dissonance noun. A harsh combination of notes or sounds that seem to clash.
How to say it
DISS-uh-nunss/ˈdɪs(ə)nəns/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (DISS).
Meanings
- A harsh combination of notes or sounds that seem to clash.
- A jarring lack of agreement between things that ought to fit together.
Dissonance in a sentence
The composer lets the dissonance hang in the air before the chord finally resolves.
There's an odd dissonance between the firm's green adverts and its fleet of diesel lorries.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- discord
- clash
- disharmony
Opposite:
- harmony
- consonance
Where dissonance comes from
From Latin dissonare, to sound apart.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
There's an odd _____ between the firm's green adverts and its fleet of diesel lorries.
- oeuvre
- dissonance
- repertoire
Show the answer
dissonance: There's an odd dissonance between the firm's green adverts and its fleet of diesel lorries.