dissent

/dɪˈsɛnt/noun

Open disagreement with an official opinion, decision, or set of beliefs, especially those of a government, party, or church.

Example sentence

“There was strong dissent among committee members over the new policy.”

Its opposite in official contexts is 'assent'. A judge who disagrees writes a dissent, and 'dissenting opinion' is the fixed term.

Related words

dissipateTo scatter and gradually disappear, or to cause something to fade away.disruptTo interrupt something and prevent it from continuing normally.dissonanceAn unpleasant clash of sounds that do not blend well together.disregardA deliberate refusal to pay attention to something or treat it as important.distinctEasy to see, hear, or notice clearly; also, clearly different from something else.disquietA feeling of unease or worry; the absence of calm in the mind or body.