Dissonant

Dissonant is an adjective used to describe a lack of harmony or agreement. In music and acoustics, dissonance refers to combinations of tones that sound unstable or harsh when heard together, typically creating a desire for resolution to a more consonant sound. The term contrasts with consonant, which denotes stable, agreeable intervals or chords. The word derives from Latin dissonans, from dis- “apart” and sonare “to sound.”

In music theory, dissonance arises from beats, roughness, or conflicting partials, and its acceptance depends on historical and cultural context. In common-practice tonality, certain dissonant intervals—such as the minor second, the major seventh, or the tritone—are used in specific rhythmic and harmonic situations and tend to resolve to consonant chords according to functional harmony. In 20th-century and contemporary music, composers may treat dissonance as a primary texture, not necessarily requiring resolution, including atonal, twelve-tone, and other experimental practices.

Outside music, dissonant often describes ideas, images, or sounds that clash with expectations or norms, and is a general metaphor for tension or conflict in culture, politics, or aesthetics. The concept is closely related to cognitive dissonance, a psychological tension arising from holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes, though the terms are used in distinct contexts.

The word has also been used as a title or descriptor in various artistic works, including albums and films, underscoring its association with friction, tension, and unresolved energy.