Dissonance
mediumNegative toneDIS-uh-nuns
noun
Definition
Lack of harmony; disagreement or inconsistency between ideas, sounds, or statements
Memory hook
DIS-SONANCE: sounds that are APART and don't harmonize — discord and disagreement.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
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.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“There was a clear ______ between the politician's campaign promises and his actual policies once elected.”
Show answer
dissonance
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
discordant
clashing or disagreeing; harsh and inharmonious
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
antipathy
a deep, settled feeling of dislike or aversion
appease
To pacify or placate someone by acceding to their demands
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