Dissonance
mediumDIS-uh-nuns
noun
Definition
Lack of harmony; disagreement or inconsistency between ideas, sounds, or statements
Examples
“There was a clear dissonance between the politician's campaign promises and his actual policies once elected.”
“The musician deliberately created dissonance in the composition to evoke tension and unease.”
Categories
GRE Tip
Dissonance is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "discord" or "cacophony" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "harmony".
Related GRE Words
cacophony
A harsh mixture of discordant sounds; loud, confused, and unharmonious noise
discrepancy
A lack of compatibility or similarity between two facts or claims
anachronism
Something that is out of place in terms of historical or chronological context
appease
To pacify or placate someone by acceding to their demands
discord
Disagreement between people; lack of harmony
belligerent
Hostile and aggressive; engaged in war or conflict
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