discord

1 of 2

noun

dis·​cord ˈdi-ˌskȯrd How to pronounce discord (audio)
1
a
: lack of agreement or harmony (as between persons, things, or ideas)
… must we fall into the jabber and babel of discord while victory is still unattained?Sir Winston Churchill
b
: active quarreling or conflict resulting from discord among persons or factions : strife
marital discord
discord between the two parties
2
a music
(1)
: a combination of musical sounds that strikes the ear harshly
(2)
: dissonance
The song ends on a discord.
b
: a harsh or unpleasant sound

discord

2 of 2

verb

dis·​cord ˈdi-ˌskȯrd How to pronounce discord (audio)
di-ˈskȯrd
discorded; discording; discords
Choose the Right Synonym for discord

discord, strife, conflict, contention, dissension, variance mean a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony.

discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Examples of discord in a Sentence

Noun The city has long been known as a scene of racial intolerance and discord. The song ends on a discord. Verb the evangelist's lavish lifestyle discords with his professed religious beliefs
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Recognizing bullying and social discord also is important, says Kara Kushnir, MSW, LCSW, PMH-C, a clinical director and psychotherapist at A Work of Heart Counseling. Sarah Scott, Parents, 4 Mar. 2024 Amid the warm feelings at the Huntington Park holiday parade, there was an undercurrent of discord. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Early signs of discord Five out of six jurors needed to agree on each part of the verdict. Melissa Chan, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 For those who question the possibility to live in harmony after years of bloody discord, look no further than the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, which ended a conflict as bitter as any and recently celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. TIME, 20 Feb. 2024 The result is a campaign with two centers of gravity, campaign officials juggling administrative jobs, and discord around consolidation. Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 15 Jan. 2024 Barbershops always seem to have one performer, a customer or a barber who likes to stir the pot, encourage fiery disagreement or goad discord about sports, music or dating. Jennifer Medina, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Sometimes, the past leads to explosive family discord. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 15 Feb. 2024 While children of parents with happy, supportive marriages tend to develop secure attachment styles, children of marital discord and divorce are prone to being avoidantly or anxiously attached to their partners. Mark Travers, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'discord.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English descorde, discord, from Anglo-French descorde, from Latin discordia, from discord-, discors — see discord entry 2

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French descorder, from Latin discordare, from discord-, discors discordant, from dis- + cord-, cor heart — more at heart

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of discord was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near discord

Cite this Entry

“Discord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discord. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

discord

noun
dis·​cord
ˈdis-ˌkȯ(ə)rd
1
: lack of agreement or harmony : conflict
discord between political parties
2
a
: a harsh combination of musical sounds
b
: a harsh or unpleasant sound

More from Merriam-Webster on discord

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