Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 2, 2026 is:
 
 
 
 
 dissonant &#149; \DISS-uh-nunt\&nbsp; &#149; adjective
 Dissonant typically describes music that is not in harmony, or sounds and notes that clash. In non-music contexts, dissonant describes things that clash by not being in agreement or by not fitting well together.

// The guitarist struck a dissonant chord.

// The retrospective provided a sometimes dissonant journey through the artist's decades of work.

<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissonant">See the entry ></a>
 
 
 
 Examples:
 "Their disparate sonic elements form a dissonant but cohesive whole, wisps of trumpet and electronic woodwinds flashing by as quickly as flickering subway car lights." — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026
 
 
 
 Did you know?
 At the root of dissonant is the Latin verb sonare. Can you guess what sonare means? Here's a hint: some related words are <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonata">sonata</a>, <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supersonic">supersonic</a>, and <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resonance">resonance</a>. Does it sound to you as if sonare has something to do with sound? To invoke an approving sound in response: ding ding ding. In fact, sonare means "to sound," is related to the Latin noun sonus (meaning "sound"), and is also an ancestor of the English word sound. In musical contexts, dissonant and the related noun <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissonance">dissonance</a> are used to describe a clashing or unresolved musical interval or chord. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/consonance-music#ref266336">Consonance</a>, in contrast, refers to a musical interval or chord that produces an impression of agreeableness or resolution.

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

dissonant

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews