discordant
Americanadjective
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being at variance; disagreeing; incongruous.
discordant opinions.
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disagreeable to the ear; dissonant; harsh.
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Geology. (of strata) structurally unconformable.
adjective
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at variance; disagreeing
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harsh in sound; inharmonious
Other Word Forms
- discordantly adverb
- nondiscordant adjective
- undiscordant adjective
- undiscordantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of discordant
1250–1300; Middle English discordaunt < Anglo-French < Latin discordant- (stem of discordāns ), present participle of discordāre. See discord, -ant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In her refusal to shy away from the grime and grit of Yuknavitch’s story, Stewart creates a startlingly raw atmosphere that ricochets between discordant and truly inspiring.
From Salon • Jan. 1, 2026
A period-piece-vampire-musical mashup could have been discordant, but writer-director Ryan Coogler confidently makes all three genres harmonize.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025
In lieu of inspiring, anthemic music, the score, by Nala Sinephro, is a jagged, discordant thing more akin to noise.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025
There's a thrilling version of Clocks that shudders with discordant guitar riffs before resolving into a powerful chorus; and an extended acoustic version of Sparks has fans swooning.
From BBC • Sep. 12, 2025
In the decades and centuries to come, there would often be fierce debate as to what constituted an appropriate combination of notes, or what cluster was beautiful, or ugly, or seductive, or discordant.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
