consonance

IPA/ˈkɒnsənəns/
IPA/ˈkɑːnsənəns/

consonance — noun

1. a pleasing sound effect made when notes or tones fit smoothly together instead o

1.nounC2
Definition

a pleasing sound effect made when notes or tones fit smoothly together instead of clashing.

Example

The choir reached a warm consonance when Xiu and Tuan held the final chord.

pattern: reach consonance on a chord

A small consonance between the cello and flute settled the whole room.

consonance between + instruments

Common collocations
  • musical consonance
  • brief consonance
  • consonance between voices
  • find consonance in a chord
Synonyms
  • harmony

    Broader musical term that can describe the whole texture, not just one pleasing sound relationship.

  • euphony

    Stresses sweetness or beauty of sound in general, especially in language.

Antonyms
  • dissonance

    The technical opposite, where notes rub against each other instead of blending.

  • discord

    A harsher clash of notes or sounds; often stronger and less neutral.

Grammar Patterns

consonance between + instruments/voices

find consonance in + passage/chord

a consonance of notes

Usage Note

Mostly used in music, sound design, or careful description of how notes fit together. Distinguish from sense 2, which moves away from sound and describes general agreement or suitability.

Common Mistakes

The drum solo created consonance with no notes at all.
The drum solo created a strong rhythm, not consonance.
In music, 'consonance' usually refers to notes or tones sounding pleasant together.

2. a state in which people, ideas, colours, or separate parts suit one another and

2.nounC2
Definition

a state in which people, ideas, colours, or separate parts suit one another and feel peacefully in balance.

Example

Élise admired the consonance between the old brick wall and the glass roof.

consonance between + two design elements

Months of patient talks restored consonance among the fishing families.

consonance among + groups

Common collocations
  • consonance between tradition and modernity
  • consonance among members
  • in consonance with nature
  • restore consonance
Synonyms
  • harmony

    Warmer and more common, especially for relationships or visual balance.

  • accord

    More often used for people, groups, or formal agreement.

  • congruity

    Very formal and slightly drier; often about parts matching a whole.

Antonyms
  • discord

    Shows disagreement or lack of peaceful fit.

  • conflict

    Stronger opposite, especially when the mismatch becomes open tension.

  • mismatch

    Focuses on things not suiting each other rather than on human agreement.

Grammar Patterns

consonance between + two things

consonance among + people/groups

in consonance with + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often appears with between, among, or in consonance with when comparing people, colours, buildings, or ideas. Distinguish from sense 1, which stays in music and sound.

Common Mistakes

There was consonance of the board over the new budget.
There was consonance among the board members over the new budget.
With people, this sense normally uses 'among' or 'between' to show who is in agreement.

3. the repeated use of similar consonant sounds in nearby words, often near the end

3.nounC2
Definition

the repeated use of similar consonant sounds in nearby words, often near the ends of the words.

Example

Rachid underlined the consonance in blank and think during class.

consonance in + word pair

The poem's soft consonance made Bilal slow down at each line ending.

poetic effect: soft consonance

Common collocations
  • poetic consonance
  • soft consonance
  • consonance in line endings
  • consonance over rhyme
Synonyms
  • sound repetition

    A broader label that can include more than consonants.

  • half-rhyme

    A narrower poetic effect that may rely on consonance without full rhyme.

Grammar Patterns

consonance in + poem/line

use consonance with repeated + sound

notice consonance near + word endings

Usage Note

Used in poetry or language study. Unlike alliteration, this pattern does not have to begin at the first sound of each word, and it often appears near word endings.

Common Mistakes

The poem uses consonance because many words start with s.
The poem uses alliteration because many words start with s.
Consonance is repeated consonant sound, often inside or near the ends of words, not simply the first sound.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

These words all suggest things fitting well together, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Consonance' is formal and often used when someone wants to stress a calm fit between parts, ideas, colours, or social groups. 'Harmony' is broader and warmer: it works for music, design, and relationships, and it sounds more natural in everyday English. 'Accord' focuses more directly on agreement between people, sides, or official positions, especially in public or diplomatic settings. 'Congruity' is very formal and slightly more abstract, often used when the parts of something match the whole in a neat, suitable way. Compare 'The building stands in consonance with the old square' with 'The neighbors lived in harmony' and 'The two parties reached accord.'

harmony ↗accord ↗congruity ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • in consonance with
  • consonance between parts
  • musical consonance
  • poetic consonance

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinLate LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Latin 'consonare', meaning 'to sound together', built from 'con-' ('together') and 'sonare' ('to sound'). The noun passed through Late Latin and French before entering English, first for sounds that blend well and later for broader ideas of agreement and for the poetic sound pattern.