English vocabulary · C1
Dissonance
/ˈdɪs.ə.nəns/ · n.
Dissonance means sounds that do not fit well together. The clash can make you want to stop listening. Your ears feel tense right away when you hear it.
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Example sentences
- The two notes made sharp dissonance.
- Dissonance filled the room after the crash.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- dis — apart (from Latin)
- son — sound (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- CLASH — sounds hit together (Sounds Hit Together)
- DISCORD — no match (No Match)
- HARSHNESS — hard on the ears (Hard On The Ears)
Words with the same root
son — sound
- resonate — make a deep sound
- resound — sound again
- sonorous — full and deep sounding
Lesson notes
Dissonance means sounds that do not fit well together. The clash can make you want to stop listening. Your ears feel tense right away when you hear it.
Related: clash, discord, harshness. Use dissonance when sounds fight each other.
The two notes made sharp dissonance. Dissonance filled the room after the crash.
From Latin. Dis- means apart. Son- means sound. Apart sounds that fight create dissonance.