discord
DIS-kord
/ˈdɪskɔːrd/
Lack of agreement or harmony between people, things, or musical notes.
Refers to an ongoing state of tension, friction, or harshness, rather than a single, isolated argument.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin discordia, which translates literally to 'hearts apart' or 'hearts at variance.' It is the exact opposite of concord ('hearts together').
Word relationships
- dissonance: Dissonance is primarily used for harsh sounds or psychological inconsistency, while discord is more commonly used for interpersonal conflict.
- friction: Friction is the resistance or clash of opinions, whereas discord is the overall state of disharmony resulting from that clash.
- harmony: Harmony is the pleasing arrangement of parts, sounds, or relationships.
- concord: Concord is agreement or harmony between people or groups.
Commonly confused with
- discourse: Discourse is written or spoken communication or debate, whereas discord is a state of disagreement.
Word family
- discordant (adjective): Disagreeing or incongruous; harsh or jarring in sound.
Collocations
- sow discord
- marital discord
- domestic discord
- note of discord
Idioms & expressions
- apple of discord
Example sentences
- "The introduction of the controversial tax bill sowed seeds of discord within the ruling coalition." Friction within a political party.
- "The composer intentionally introduced a sudden discord into the symphony to startle the audience." Musical dissonance.
Memory hook
Discord is when your 'chords' (musical or vocal) do not cordially agree, causing a bad sound. Hearts apart.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a polite, intellectual debate; discord implies an unpleasant, jarring clash.
Fun facts
- In Greek mythology, Eris was the goddess of discord. She threw the 'Apple of Discord' inscribed 'to the fairest' into a wedding, sparking a vanity contest among goddesses that ultimately caused the Trojan War.
Related words
Explore more words
dissonance, dissonant, dissension, friction, differ, dispute
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