Discordant
/dɪsˈkɔːrdənt/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Discordant describes things that do not go well together or do not agree. It is often used for sounds that are unpleasant or harsh because they clash. It can also describe ideas, opinions, or feelings that are in conflict or do not match.
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See It in Action
Sounds that clash or do not blend well
- •The discordant noise of car horns made it hard to concentrate.
- •Discordant notes in the music made the song sound strange.
- •The choir stopped singing because of discordant voices.
Ideas, opinions, or feelings that do not agree or are in conflict
- •There was a discordant opinion in the meeting that caused disagreement.
- •Their feelings about the project were discordant, so they could not decide.
- •The discordant views between the two groups made cooperation difficult.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "discordant" like "different" or "not matching," but stronger and often unpleasant or uncomfortable
- ✓Picture two musical notes played together that sound bad or harsh, like a noise that does not blend well
- ✓It's the feeling when people argue or when something feels out of place or wrong in a group
- ✓Sounds like "dis-CORD-ant" → imagine a broken music cord that makes bad sounds when you play music
- ✓Think of a story where two characters have very different opinions and keep disagreeing, creating tension
- ✓NOT like "harmonious" (sounds or ideas that fit well and are pleasant together); discordant means the opposite
- ✓NOT like "different" (which can be neutral or positive), discordant usually means unpleasant or conflicting difference
Try Other Words
- •Clashing: colors, sounds, or ideas that do not go well together (Use when emphasizing strong disagreement or bad combination)
- •Conflicting: ideas or feelings that oppose each other (Use when focusing on disagreement or opposition)
- •Inharmonious: sounds or relationships that lack harmony or agreement (Use for formal or artistic contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "dis-" (not, opposite) + root "cord" (heart, agreement, harmony) + suffix "-ant" (adjective form)
- •Etymology: From Latin "discordans," meaning "disagreeing" or "not in harmony"
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe sounds or music that do not harmonize, later extended to ideas and feelings
- •Modern usage: Used in music, speech, relationships, and situations where things do not fit or agree well
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you heard discordant sounds that made you uncomfortable? What were they?
•How can understanding discordant feelings help in solving conflicts between people?
Fill in the blanks
1.The discordant sound of the alarm ___ my concentration and made me feel uneasy.
2.When their opinions were discordant, it was difficult for them to ___ a decision.
3.Unlike harmonious music, discordant notes ___ together in an unpleasant way.
4.She felt a discordant emotion ___ happiness and sadness at the same time.
5.The colors in the painting were discordant, ___ the overall beauty of the artwork.
6.In the argument, the discordant voices ___ a sense of tension in the room.
7.Discordant ideas often ___ the start of a good debate but can also cause problems.