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GRE vocabulary

dissonance

nounHigh-frequency wordMore D words

a lack of harmony or agreement

Word origin: From Latin dissonare, to sound discordantly.

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In a sentence

Dissonance in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing dissonance in a sentence.

There was a clear dissonance between the firm's values and its actions.

Reviewers noted a striking dissonance between the report's optimistic summary and its grim underlying data.

Synonyms
discorddisharmonyfriction
Antonyms
harmonyconcordconsonance

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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence

The startup's early growth, impressive as it looked on paper, rested on a blank foundation, for a single lost contract was enough to push the firm to the brink of collapse.

Select the two answers that give the sentence the same meaning. 0 of 2 selected.

Usage & nuance

Using “dissonance” well

Dissonance names a clash or lack of harmony, whether literally in sound or figuratively between ideas. It is more abstract and tension-laden than a plain disagreement.

Common questions

Questions about “dissonance”

Dissonance (noun) means a lack of harmony or agreement
Here is dissonance used in an example sentence: "There was a clear dissonance between the firm's values and its actions." Another example: "Reviewers noted a striking dissonance between the report's optimistic summary and its grim underlying data."
Common synonyms for dissonance include discord, disharmony, friction.
Antonyms of dissonance include harmony, concord, consonance.
Clusters with discord, disharmony, and friction in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms harmony, concord, and consonance mark the resolved or agreeing state.
Yes. Dissonance is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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