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Glite Dictionary
to dissonate

to dissonate

9.9
To make sounds that do not fit together and seem unpleasant
  • verb
  • /ˈdɪsəˌneɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : disonar
  • The unexpected mix of instruments seemed to dissonate rather than harmonize on stage.

Examples

  • In careless hands, the violin can easily dissonate and unsettle the audience.

  • Why does that note dissonate with the others?

  • He worried that the metal pipes would dissonate if not tuned properly.

  • The orchestra dissonated during the performance.

  • The unexpected mix of instruments seemed to dissonate rather than harmonize on stage.

  • In careless hands, the violin can easily dissonate and unsettle the audience.

  • He worried that the metal pipes would dissonate if not tuned properly.

Synonyms

to blare
vsto dissonate
50 3.8

To make a loud harsh sound that hurts your ears, like a siren

focuses on creating unpleasant discord rather than loudness
to disharmonize
vsto dissonate
9.1

Make different things or sounds clash so they feel unpleasant

has essentially the same meaning and effect
to hoarsen
vsto dissonate
7.4

To make a voice sound rough or harsh

is broader and applies to all sounds not only voice

Antonyms

to harmonize
  • US
1 4.2

Fit together and look good

How Harsh

grate
1 6.4
to dissonate
  • Specialized
9.9
clash
16 2.7

Surface Forms

dissonate infinitive
dissonated past
dissonated past participle
dissonating present participle
dissonates third person singular

Morphology

dissonate = dis + son + ate

Although the word historically contains a Latinate negative prefix and a sound-related bound root, modern learners cannot reliably derive this verb meaning through productive English morphology.

Etymology

The word dissonate comes from the parts dis- meaning 'apart' and sonare meaning 'to sound'. Like resonate, which also shares sonare, to dissonate is to make sounds that are 'apart' from each other, harsh and not in harmony.