Meaning & use
discordant
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Meanings
adjectivecomparablemusic
Sounding harsh or unpleasant because the notes or noises do not fit together.
Grammar: Can come before a noun or after be: a discordant note.
Patterns
- a discordant note
- discordant sounds
The out-of-tune piano made a discordant sound.
A discordant clang echoed through the hall.
The orchestra's opening was discordant before they found the key.
adjectivecomparablefigurative
Disagreeing or in conflict, so that things do not fit well together.
Grammar: Used figuratively for opinions, voices, or colors: discordant views.
Patterns
- discordant with something
The meeting was full of discordant voices.
Bright orange curtains looked discordant with the pale walls.
Her cheerful tone was discordant with the sad news.
Word forms
| comparative | more discordant |
|---|---|
| superlative | most discordant |
Common combinations
- discordant note
- His rude comment struck a discordant note.
- discordant voices
- Discordant voices filled the debate.
- discordant sound
- A discordant sound came from the broken horn.
- discordant views
- The party is divided by discordant views.
- discordant with
- The new building is discordant with the old town.
Synonyms and how they differ
- harsh
- Harsh is general for anything rough, but discordant is about elements that clash instead of blending.
- clashing
- Clashing is more everyday and often applies to colors or schedules, while discordant sounds more formal.
- inharmonious
- Inharmonious is a formal way of saying lacking harmony, close in meaning but rarer.
- conflicting
- Conflicting applies to claims or interests that cannot both be true, and rarely describes sound.
Opposites
Word family
- discord noun
- disagreement or a clashing combination of sounds
- discordance noun
- the state of being discordant
- discordantly adverb
- in a clashing way
- concord noun
- agreement and harmony
Commonly confused: discordant or discordant vs. dissonant?
discordant vs discordant vs. dissonant
Dissonant is the technical music term for clashing notes, while discordant is wider and also covers conflicts in opinion.
Practice
Her sharp remark struck a ___ note at the otherwise friendly dinner.
Choose one answer.
A discordant note is something that clashes with the mood. Harmonious, melodic, and gracious would all fit smoothly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “discordant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.