discordant
adjective
dis·cor·dant di-ˈskȯr-dᵊnt 
1
a
: being at variance : disagreeing
discordant opinions
b
: quarrelsome
a discordant family
2
music : relating to a discord (see discord entry 1 sense 2)
a discordant tone
discordantly adverb
Did you know?
Discord, a word more common in earlier centuries than today, means basically "conflict", so discordant often means "conflicting". The opinions of Supreme Court justices are frequently discordant; justices who disagree with the Court's decision usually write a dissenting opinion. Discordant is often used with a somewhat musical meaning, suggesting that a single wrong note or harmony has been heard in the middle of a performance—even though musical words such as chord actually come from a different Latin word, meaning "cord" or "string" (a reference to the strings of ancient instruments such as the lyre).
Synonyms
- cacophonous
- dissonant
- inharmonious
- unmelodious
- unmusical
- unvocal
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She has the difficult task of bringing together a number of discordant elements. discordant tones coming from the poorly tuned instrument
Recent Examples on the Web The record ventures with an innate intelligence between mild, soulful disco grooves and discordant techno samples. 
Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2022 The pockets of discordant laws across the continent leave the landscape chaotic. Robinson Sibe, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 As war rages, streets bearing names of famous Russians strike a discordant note for Ukraine. Scott Sandell, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2022 Jonas Wikstrand’s original score does a nice job underpinning the story’s tonal mix of criminal intrigue, mystery, discordant relationships and hidden sentimental loyalties. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 8 July 2022 Writing does not force coherence onto a discordant narrative. Ursula Lindsey, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022 In earlier seasons, this tension felt less discordant. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 July 2022 That alone is cause for celebration in these discordant times. Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 25 June 2022 That’s made all the worse by a system that censors discordant views and leaves room only for fawning approval. Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 24 June 2022 See More
Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2022 The pockets of discordant laws across the continent leave the landscape chaotic. Robinson Sibe, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 As war rages, streets bearing names of famous Russians strike a discordant note for Ukraine. Scott Sandell, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2022 Jonas Wikstrand’s original score does a nice job underpinning the story’s tonal mix of criminal intrigue, mystery, discordant relationships and hidden sentimental loyalties. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 8 July 2022 Writing does not force coherence onto a discordant narrative. Ursula Lindsey, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022 In earlier seasons, this tension felt less discordant. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 July 2022 That alone is cause for celebration in these discordant times. Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 25 June 2022 That’s made all the worse by a system that censors discordant views and leaves room only for fawning approval. Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 24 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see discord entry 2
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
discordant
adjective
dis·cor·dant dis-ˈkȯr-dᵊnt
: being in disagreement
discordant opinions
Medical Definition
discordant
adjective
dis·cor·dant dis-ˈkȯrd-ᵊnt
of twins
: dissimilar with respect to one or more particular characters compare concordant
discordant
adjective
1
as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds discordant tones coming from the poorly tuned instrument Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- shrill
- dissonant
- inharmonious
- noisy
- cacophonous
- metallic
- unmusical
- unpleasant
- unmelodious
- clashing
- strident
- unpleasing
- screeching
- raucous
- jarring
- clanging
- jangling
- atonal
- clattering
- disagreeable
- unvocal
- harsh
- blaring
- grating
- squeaky
- tuneless
- jangly
- clangorous
- raspy
- scratching
- sonorous
- dinning
- off-key
- clamorous
- uproarious
- resounding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- harmonious
- musical
- melodious
- melodic
- harmonizing
- tuneful
- resonant
- sweet
- sonorous
- dulcet
- euphonious
- mellow
- mellifluous
- rhythmic
- pleasant
- harmonic
- agreeable
- appealing
- rhythmical
- symphonic
- orchestral
- lilting
- warbling
- lyrical
- tonal
- chordal
- mellifluent
- homophonic
- polyphonic
- lyric
- trilling
- silent
- quavering
- calm
- quiet
- hushed
- cadenced
- symphonious
- still
- soundless
- noiseless
- polyphonous
2
as in noisy
making loud, confused, and usually unharmonious sounds the discordant cries of gulls fighting over the fishing boat's castoffs Synonyms & Similar Words
- noisy
- dissonant
- rackety
- dinning
- strident
- cacophonous
- clangorous
- sonorous
- vociferous
- clanging
- brazen
- brassy
- blatant
- blaring
- booming
- clamorous
- uproarious
- obstreperous
- resounding
- earsplitting
- jangly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- silent
- quiet
- still
- calm
- soundless
- noiseless
- hushed
3
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight a troubled, discordant family that would benefit from professional counseling Synonyms & Similar Words
- aggressive
- militant
- hostile
- assaultive
- contentious
- bellicose
- warlike
- acidic
- confrontational
- ugly
- combative
- irritable
- belligerent
- quarrelsome
- pugnacious
- truculent
- disputatious
- savage
- antagonistic
- fierce
- agonistic
- argumentative
- feisty
- vicious
- rude
- brawly
- scrappy
- disagreeable
- chippy
- gladiatorial
- dyspeptic
- fighting
- warring
- peevish
- fractious
- querulous
- cross
- testy
- fretful
- bilious
- waspish
- petulant
- on the warpath
- irascible
- snappish
- ornery
- battling
- choleric
- huffy
- grouchy
- touchy
- bristly
- pettish
- surly
- grumpy
- ill-tempered
- crabby
- bearish
- hot-tempered
- stroppy
- ill-humored
- ill-natured
- cranky
- prickly
- snappy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- peaceful
- peaceable
- conciliatory
- nonaggressive
- pleasant
- pacific
- nonbelligerent
- unwarlike
- amiable
- ingratiating
- benevolent
- friendly
- uncontentious
- amicable
- cordial
- genial
- tranquil
- quiet
- complaisant
- antimilitarist
- serene
- uncombative
- mild
- easygoing
- affable
- calm
- gracious
- benign
- unbelligerent
- obliging
- sociable
- gentle
- kindhearted
- anti-imperialist
- relaxed
- good-natured
- kindly
- good-tempered
4
as in conflicting
not being in agreement or harmony his views on the proper role of diet in maintaining good health are certainly discordant with most contemporary opinions on the subject Synonyms & Similar Words
- conflicting
- inconsistent
- clashing
- incompatible
- discrepant
- inharmonious
- contradictory
- incongruous
- disagreeing
- repugnant
- mutually exclusive
- at variance
- at odds
- inconsonant
- contrary
- irreconcilable
- opposing
- antagonistic
- opposite
- antithetical
- diametric
- antipodal
- diametrical
- antipodean
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- concordant
- consistent
- harmonious
- congruent
- compatible
- consonant
- agreeing
- conformable (to)
- correspondent (with or to)
- similar
- congruous
- accordant
- like
- nonconflicting
- akin