dissonance
/ˈdɪsənəns/noun
An unpleasant clash of sounds that do not blend well together.
Example sentences
- “The beginner's violin practice filled the house with dissonance.”
- “The composer used sudden dissonance to make the audience feel uneasy.”
Beyond music, 'cognitive dissonance' names the discomfort of holding clashing beliefs, now the word's most quoted use.