variants also dissention
Definition of dissensionnext

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 The dissension over Valley Link reflects a larger debate over how the Bay Area should grow. Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026 Steve Schutz, 69, said the rallies demonstrate the widespread public dissension with the country’s direction. Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026 The announcers played up the ongoing dissension between MCMG. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Mar. 2026 The revolutionaries failed because of their internal dissensions, because of the distrust of Piedmont by the smaller states, because of the Piedmontese distrust of France, and because of the confusion over the role that the papacy should play in the making of Italy. Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissension
Noun
  • But the discord between the two leaders stretches far beyond disagreements over the conflict in the Middle East.
    Tiago Ventura, Time, 24 June 2026
  • Despite the discord, the regime is likely to have the final say.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Test your knowledge of cruise controversies, wedding whispers and more in this week's American Culture Quiz.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Williams’ decision to leave the position was a big surprise to the mayor, commissioners and residents, though her departure followed months of controversy and scrutiny.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • The earthquakes have compounded problems created by years of economic and political strife, particularly for the overwhelmed healthcare system.
    Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • The program was created by Congress in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters, civil strife and other instability.
    Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • The legal action is part of a broader series of disputes in the streaming industry over carriage rights, bundling requirements and pricing control.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The dispute over Mississippi's law dates back to 2024, when the Republican National Committee and Mississippi's Libertarian Party filed lawsuits challenging the ballot-receipt deadline.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Other insiders dispute this characterization, saying Gunn, Safran and Gillespie had the normal amount of healthy friction any filmmaker and studio have as part of the process of making a movie better.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
  • The energy is stored as rotational momentum in an environment of near-zero friction.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • This did not, however, mark the end of disputation concerning the Northwest Angle.
    Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
  • According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • China has helped cushion the global oil shock, seen its clean energy tech exports surge and framed the war in Iran as another example in which Chinese leadership could supersede the US in ending global conflicts.
    Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • The characters are all in a continual state of collision, their shifting conflicts inflamed by Coriolanus’ arrogantly uncompromising nature.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • And a red card against an American soccer star sparks debate.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • But most companies run scenario-planning exercises, only to rehearse their debates about what to do once a crisis hits.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dissension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissension. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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