discord

Noun: /ˈdɪskɔːrd/, Verb: /dɪsˈkɔːrd/ Formal

Say it: Noun: DIS-kord, Verb: dis-KORD

1. noun A state of disagreement and conflict between people or groups.
Years of political discord have left the country deeply divided and unable to pass meaningful legislation.
2. noun A harsh, unpleasant, or unharmonious combination of musical notes; dissonance.
The composer intentionally used jarring discord to create a feeling of tension and unease in the film's score.
3. verb To disagree or be out of harmony with something.
His account of the events discorded sharply with the evidence presented by the prosecution.

📖 Seen in the wild

The constant discord among the committee members made it impossible to reach a consensus on the new policy.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ discord in a sentence

The constant discord between the two departments was affecting the entire company's morale.
She was skilled at sowing discord among her rivals to gain an advantage.
A note of discord entered the conversation when the topic turned to money.
The novel explores the marital discord that tears a seemingly perfect family apart.
There was a strange discord between the cheerful music and the somber mood of the crowd.
The board meeting, which was supposed to foster unity, ended in bitter discord.
Even within the protest movement, there was internal discord about the best path forward.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

conflict strife dissonance disagreement contention friction disharmony clash

conflict · suggests a more active and open struggle

strife · implies a more bitter, prolonged, and sometimes violent state of conflict

dissonance · often used for a clash of ideas or sounds, closely related to the musical sense of discord

disagreement · a more general and often milder term for a difference of opinion

Opposites: harmony, accord, concord, agreement, peace

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'discord' traveled to English from Old French, but its roots lie in the Latin 'discordia'. It's formed from 'dis-', meaning 'apart', and 'cor', meaning 'heart'. The word's literal meaning is 'hearts apart', an image that vividly captures its sense of deep disagreement and emotional conflict.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

sow discordmarital discordinternal discorda note of discordpolitical discordcause discord

Discord is a strong word that implies more than a simple argument; it suggests a fundamental lack of harmony that is disruptive and emotionally charged. Note the stress shift in pronunciation: the noun is stressed on the first syllable ('DIS-kord'), while the much less common verb is stressed on the second ('dis-KORD'). While it has a specific musical meaning, its primary use relates to social and political conflict.

Word family: discordant, discordantly

💬 Quick answers

What does discord mean?

Discord means a lack of agreement or harmony, often leading to open conflict. It can also refer to a harsh and unpleasant combination of musical notes.

What is the difference between discord and disagreement?

Disagreement is a simple difference of opinion. Discord is a much stronger term, implying a deep and disruptive lack of harmony that often involves negative emotions and strife.

Is discord a negative word?

Yes, discord carries a strong negative connotation. It suggests an unpleasant state of conflict, friction, and disharmony.

How is the word discord pronounced?

When used as a noun, the stress is on the first syllable: DIS-kord. As a less common verb, the stress shifts to the second syllable: dis-KORD.

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