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
Explanation
If you believe that movies should entertain, but your friend insists that movies should inspire, then the two of you hold discordant views on the purpose of movies. That means your opinions are in conflict. You can see the word discord in discordant. Discord is tension felt between people who strongly disagree about something. So discordant describes experiencing discord, a lack of harmony. A discordant conversation at your dinner table may make some people upset — they want everyone to get along. Discordant can also describe harsh and unpleasant sounds, like the blaring horns in city traffic.
Vocabulary lists containing discordant
Grade 9, List 4
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Things Fall Apart
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
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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.
Where the first wave of bands that emerged from downtown were more traditionally rock and roll and melodic, No Wave was the louder, darker, discordant underbelly and the logical next step.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026
A 19th-Century Anglo-Indian journal derided the voices of boys playing women as "discordant", comparing them unfavourably to "howling jackals".
From BBC • Apr. 4, 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
Clare opened his jaws and released a discordant scream that echoed off the trees, filling the night.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
