DISSENSION Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'dissension' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dissension are conflict , contention , discord , strife , and variance . While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions. // religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Q: Where would 'conflict' be a reasonable alternative to 'dissension'?

The words conflict and dissension are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires. // the conflict of freedom and responsibility

Q: When is 'contention' a more appropriate choice than 'dissension'?

The synonyms contention and dissension are sometimes interchangeable, but contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy. // several points of contention about the new zoning law

Q: When might 'discord' be a better fit than 'dissension'?

The words discord and dissension can be used in similar contexts, but discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism. // a political party long racked by discord

Q: When is it sensible to use 'strife' instead of 'dissension'?

Although the words strife and dissension have much in common, strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved. // during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

Q: When could 'variance' be used to replace 'dissension'?

The meanings of variance and dissension largely overlap; however, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest. // cultural variances that work against a national identity

dissension

noun

di-ˈsen(t)-shən

variants also dissention

Definition of dissension

as in discord

a lack of agreement or harmony religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in controversy

variance of opinion on a matter continued dissension among historians on the exact spot of Columbus's first landing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun dissension contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dissension are conflict, contention, discord, strife, and variance. While all these words mean "a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony," dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

Where would conflict be a reasonable alternative to dissension?

The words conflict and dissension are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

When is contention a more appropriate choice than dissension?

The synonyms contention and dissension are sometimes interchangeable, but contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

When might discord be a better fit than dissension?

The words discord and dissension can be used in similar contexts, but discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

When is it sensible to use strife instead of dissension?

Although the words strife and dissension have much in common, strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

When could variance be used to replace dissension?

The meanings of variance and dissension largely overlap; however, variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dissension There is fierce dissension about whether this is even worth it. — Chris Branch, New York Times, 21 May 2026 With so much open dissension, no one knew who was really running the company. — Geoffrey Cain, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026 This would be a good way to sow dissension among your employees. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 4 May 2026 The dissension over Valley Link reflects a larger debate over how the Bay Area should grow. — Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissension

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissension

Noun

So far, counter-efforts have involved both protectionist and industrial policies, including â€œMade in Europeâ€� rules that have stoked discord among some of Europeâ€™s largest economies.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Officials say one goal of the attacks is to undermine support for Ukraine, spread fear and discord in European societies and drain investigative resources.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of discord

Noun

The new concealer was originally launched as the Wide Awake Brightening Concealer alongside the Wide Awake Brightening Neutralizer, but ran into controversy just days after launch.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026
CoreWeave’s vast debt pile has been the subject of controversy in the past.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of controversy

Noun

Around the same time, Congress established the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, an administrative body that adjudicates patent disputes.

— Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
There was also a physical dispute between Parillo and Amy Helm after her removal, during which police were called to LHS in Woodstock.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of dispute

Noun

Washington, for its part, is creating friction in many of its partnerships instead of deepening them, and risks squandering its network just as its adversaries are learning to make more of theirs.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
If deleting your account takes an email to support, a waiting period and a follow-up, that friction is a design choice.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of friction

Noun

This contestation takes place through philosophical debates, religious disputations, and public discussions, whether direct or indirect, open or clandestine.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
This did not, however, mark the end of disputation concerning the Northwest Angle.

— Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026

Definition of disputation

Noun

The group’s plans for the Middle East have been affected by the regional conflict, which has put some expansion activity in the region on hold.

— Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Given that the United States keeps getting mired in errant conflicts, Congress urgently needs to reassert its constitutional obligation to approve acts of war and oversee retrenchment.

— Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of conflict

Noun

Giving Americans $1,000 or $5,000 invested in a technology index is a straightforward idea; The source and use of the funds will likely be of great debate.

— Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Congress weighs competing proposals Anthropic’s draft enters a crowded legislative debate over how the United States should regulate frontier AI.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of debate

Browse Nearby Words

disseminations

dissension

dissensions

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“Dissension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissension. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dissension

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