discord

[dis-kawrd, dis-kawrd]

noun

1. lack of concord or harmony between persons or things.

   marital discord.

   Synonyms: contention, argument, antagonism, controversy, struggle, conflict

2. disagreement; difference of opinion.

   Synonyms: contention, argument, antagonism, controversy, struggle, conflict

3. strife; dispute; war.

   Synonyms: contention, argument, antagonism, controversy, struggle, conflict

4. Music.,  an inharmonious combination of musical tones sounded together.

5. any confused or harsh noise; dissonance.

verb (used without object)

1. to disagree; be at variance.

discord

noun

1. lack of agreement of harmony; strife

2. harsh confused mingling of sounds

3. a combination of musical notes containing one or more dissonant intervals See dissonance concord

verb

1. (intr) to disagree; clash

Other Word Forms

• undiscording adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of discord¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English noun descorde, discorde, from Anglo-French, Old French descort, descorde, from Latin discordia, derivative of discord-, stem of discors “discordant,” from dis- dis- ¹ + cord-, stem of cors “heart”

Word History and Origins

Origin of discord¹

C13: from Old French descort, from descorder to disagree, from Latin discordāre, from discors at variance, from _dis- ¹ + cor heart

Example Sentences

But some members of the family have recently expressed fears that disgruntled royals or displaced religious leaders may try to sow discord.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The United States has intensified its campaign to earn support for its resolution, hitting out at "attempts to sow discord" among Council members.

Read more on Barron's

When a friend asked for help addressing discord among staffers at a telecom company, Popple decided it might be enjoyable working with businesspeople.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bondi had accused FBI leadership of “trying to destroy her” by leaking information about internal discord, the Journal previously reported.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He warned that authoritarian regimes are increasingly willing to sabotage critical infrastructure in order to "impede decision-making, damage the economy, undermine war-fighting capability and sow social discord".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• disharmony 
• dissonance 
• tumult