dissonance
noun
inharmonious or harsh sound; discord; cacophony.
dissonances
-
pluralof dissonance.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
The word-painting in these arresting madrigal-style pieces, heightened by Gesualdo’s characteristic dissonances, is starkly immediate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2025
Pohlad treasures the harmonies and dissonances that wonderful actors create, even if his camera can excessively linger on Affleck’s brooding at the expense of an under-utilized Deschanel as the long-supportive wife.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2023
His new album, “’Flicted,” pulls together spiky dissonances and folky warmth, chamber orchestrations and electronic illusions, puckishness and benevolence.
From New York Times ● May 27, 2022
Q: I love the beauty of the dissonances in the Carl Ruggles piece you’ve selected.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 6, 2022
Music that contains no dissonances can tend to seem simplistic or boring.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
