adjective

discordant

dis-KOR-duhnt/dɪsˈkɔːrdənt/

Clashing or unpleasantly out of harmony.

The violin and trumpet produce a discordant combination.

Two musicians playing together but visibly out of harmony: a violinist and a trumpeter turn toward each other with puzzled, strained expressions as their performance clashes.

Etymology

disLatinapart

+cordLatinheart

+antOld Frenchpresent-participle ending

The underlying image of hearts apart became a verb meaning to differ or quarrel. Its participial adjective describes things at variance, including sounds that clash rather than harmonize.

In context

Libranima570:22

the melancholy sound of a fife and harsh discordant drum made itself heard

Don Quixote - Cervantes (Illustrated Audiobook) Part 3 of 4

More examples

The room’s clashing colors felt discordant.
His cheerful tone was discordant with the grave news.
The musicians deliberately produced a discordant chord.

Forms

discordant · more discordant · most discordant

Similar words

dissonant: Dissonant particularly describes clashing sounds; discordant also describes disagreement or incompatible elements.
incompatible: Incompatible means unable to fit or work together; discordant emphasizes the resulting clash.