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dissonance

Noun

IPA /ˈdɪsənəns/

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Meaning in plain English

A lack of agreement or consistency between ideas, feelings or actions.

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Pronunciation

dissonance/ˈdɪsənəns/

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Words promise kindness
Actions show hostility

Dissonance is a mismatch: the words and actions do not agree.

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She noticed a dissonance between his friendly words and cold behaviour.
The essay explores the dissonance between the company's values and its decisions.

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She noticed a ________ between his friendly words and cold behaviour.

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dissonance — A lack of agreement or consistency between ideas, feelings or actions.

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A lack of agreement or consistency between ideas, feelings or actions.

Compare: She noticed a dissonance between his friendly words and cold behaviour.

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Word origin

Through French from Latin dissonantia, related to sounds that disagree.

Did you know?

Dissonance also has a musical meaning involving sounds that clash.

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