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DISSONANT
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Dictionary entry overview: What does dissonant mean?
• DISSONANT (adjective)
The adjective DISSONANT has 3 senses:
1. characterized by musical dissonance; harmonically unresolved
2. lacking in harmony
3. not in accord
Familiarity information: DISSONANT used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Characterized by musical dissonance; harmonically unresolved
Synonyms:
dissonant; unresolved
Similar:
inharmonious; unharmonious (not in harmony)
Domain category:
music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)
Derivation:
dissonance (the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality; sound that is a disagreeable auditory experience)
dissonate (cause to sound harsh and unpleasant)
dissonate (be dissonant or harsh)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Lacking in harmony
Synonyms:
discordant; disharmonious; dissonant; inharmonic
Similar:
inharmonious; unharmonious (not in harmony)
Derivation:
dissonance (disagreeable sounds)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Not in accord
Synonyms:
at variance; discrepant; dissonant
Context example:
widely discrepant statements
Similar:
discordant (not in agreement or harmony)
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