discordance

/dɪˈskɔː.dəns/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈskɔːr.dəns/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈskȯr-dᵊn(t)s/ (ame, mw)

discordance — noun

  • discordancesingular
  • discordancesplural

1. A formal lack of fit or agreement between people, ideas, reports, or other thing

1.名詞C2
釋義

A formal lack of fit or agreement between people, ideas, reports, or other things.

例句

Discordance between the witness accounts kept Mateo in court all afternoon.

pattern: discordance between + plural noun

The council worried about discordance between city rules and village customs.

同義詞
  • disagreement

    More common and less formal, often for a single difference of opinion.

  • inconsistency

    Best when facts, reports, or statements do not match.

  • friction

    Suggests repeated tension between people rather than factual mismatch.

反義詞
  • agreement

    Focuses on people or facts matching each other.

  • harmony

    Stresses smooth relations or parts working well together.

文法句型

discordance between + plural noun

discordance with + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often used in formal writing about facts, systems, or relationships that do not line up. For an everyday quarrel or a small difference of opinion, speakers usually choose simpler words such as disagreement or argument.

常見錯誤

❌I had a discordance with my sister yesterday.
✅I had an argument with my sister yesterday.
💡'Discordance' is formal and usually describes a broader lack of agreement, not one ordinary quarrel.
❌There was discordance because Leo was late once.
✅There was annoyance because Leo was late once.
💡'Discordance' suggests an ongoing mismatch or conflict, not one small irritation.

2. A harsh note, or mix of sounds, that jars the ear instead of blending smoothly.

2.名詞C2
釋義

A harsh note, or mix of sounds, that jars the ear instead of blending smoothly.

例句

A sharp discordance broke the song when Wei struck the wrong piano key.

music: discordance in a performance

The old fan added faint discordance to Nadia's piano recording.

pattern: add discordance to + recording

同義詞
  • dissonance

    More technical and especially common in music theory.

  • cacophony

    Broader and noisier, often for a messy mass of unpleasant sound.

反義詞
  • harmony

    Describes sounds that fit pleasantly together.

  • consonance

    Technical opposite stressing a pleasing relation between notes.

文法句型

a discordance in + music/sound

add discordance to + noun phrase

用法筆記

Most often used in formal writing about music, sound design, or other careful sound description. It points to sounds that clash with each other, not simply to loud volume.

常見錯誤

❌The party speakers made discordance because they were loud.
✅The party speakers made a lot of noise because they were loud.
💡'Discordance' is about clashing sounds, not loudness by itself.

3. A feeling that something is out of place because it looks or sounds wrong beside

3.名詞C2
釋義

A feeling that something is out of place because it looks or sounds wrong beside what surrounds it.

例句

The bright orange door created discordance in the row of gray houses.

visual pattern: discordance in a scene

Viewers noticed discordance between the actor's calm smile and angry voice.

pattern: discordance between two features

同義詞
  • mismatch

    More everyday and less formal for things that do not go together.

  • incongruity

    Formal and often used for something that seems oddly unsuitable.

  • clash

    More vivid, often for colors, styles, or sounds that strike you as wrong together.

反義詞
  • harmony

    Describes parts that fit together in a pleasing way.

  • coherence

    Focuses on a whole design or scene feeling unified.

文法句型

discordance between + colors/styles

discordance in + design/scene

用法筆記

This sense is broader than the sound sense and can be visual or auditory. It is used when one detail feels wrong in its setting, not simply when two things are different.

常見錯誤

❌The blue cup showed discordance with the red cup.
✅The blue cup contrasted with the red cup.
💡'Discordance' suggests a detail that feels wrongly out of place, not any simple difference.
❌There was discordance because two singers wore black.
✅There was harmony because the two singers wore black.
💡Matching details do not create 'discordance'; the word points to a clash.