Dissonance
/ˈdɪsənəns/
Definitions
2 meaningsA harsh or jarring combination of sounds, especially in music.
/ˈdɪsənəns/
A lack of harmony among musical notes.
The piece was characterized by its frequent use of dissonance.
💡 Simply: Imagine two singers trying to sing the same song but hitting completely different notes – that's dissonance! It's when things don't quite fit or sound right in music.
👶 For kids: When the music sounds yucky, it has dissonance!
More Examples
The dissonances in the orchestra created a feeling of unease.
The composer resolved the dissonance with a pleasing chord.
How It's Used
"The composer used dissonance to create a sense of tension and unease."
A state of disagreement or lack of harmony; conflict.
/ˈdɪsənəns/
A lack of agreement or harmony between ideas or feelings.
The politician's public statements were in stark dissonance with their private actions.
💡 Simply: Think about when your actions don't match your beliefs – like saying you love animals but eating meat. That feeling of things not lining up is dissonance.
👶 For kids: When your thoughts and your actions don't match, that's dissonance!
More Examples
She felt a strong dissonance between her ideals and her everyday life.
The company's claims about its environmental policies created dissonance among consumers.
How It's Used
"Cognitive dissonance can occur when a person's beliefs conflict with their actions."
"There was a dissonance between the candidate's promises and their actions."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
cognitive dissonance
The mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.
"He experienced cognitive dissonance when he realized he was supporting a political party whose values he didn't fully share."
From Latin dissonantia, from dissonare, meaning 'to sound discordant,' from dis- (apart) + sonare (to sound).
The term 'dissonance' in music has existed since the 14th century, evolving from a specific musical concept to a broader metaphor for conflict. The psychological concept of cognitive dissonance emerged in the mid-20th century.
Memory tip
Think of sounds that don't 'sound' good together, like clashing instruments.