discordant

[ dis-kawr-dnt ]

adjective

1. being at variance; disagreeing; incongruous:

   discordant opinions.

2. disagreeable to the ear; dissonant; harsh.
3. Geology. (of strata) structurally unconformable.

discordant

/ dɪsˈkɔːdənt /

adjective

1. at variance; disagreeing
2. harsh in sound; inharmonious

Derived Forms

• disˈcordantly, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·cordant·ly adverb
• nondis·cordant adjective
• undis·cordant adjective
• undis·cordant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of discordant¹

1250–1300; Middle English discordaunt < Anglo-French < Latin discordant- (stem of discordāns ), present participle of discordāre. See discord, -ant

Example Sentences

Sell strikes a discordant frame against the middle America bedlam of Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a viewpoint that’s admittedly discordant with what’s happening in the world, but the British director embraces a flame of optimism.

From Los Angeles Times

The discordant note is subtle, but at the same time hard to entirely miss.

From Salon

A man walked by and heard the announcement, a slightly discordant chorus of sorts from the different phones all tuned into the same thing being “sung” by different voices.

From Salon

Then again, that casual approach to "true" storytelling relaxes the tension and makes the spots where Jarecki teases out the saga's perverse humor a bit discordant.

From Salon

Related Words

• cacophonous
• clashing
• dissonant
• divergent
• jarring
• strident