variants also dissention

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 real action right now is with the rebellion, which Bernard hopes will sow dissension both within Mechanical and between Mechanical and the rest of the silo. Noel Murray, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024 That conflict raised concerns among Republicans in Georgia and nationally that GOP dissension would lead to a repeat of 2020, when Biden won the state by fewer than 12,000 votes out of 5 million cast. Chris Megerian, arkansasonline.com, 5 Oct. 2024 The Raiders have alternated wins and losses, and has some dissension in their ranks. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024 The Amos family has been riven by dissension for at least a year, with Shannon having accused her brother of failing to provide adequate health care for their elderly father, who died at 84. Greg Evans, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for dissension
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissension
Noun
  • Unsurprisingly, the most dramatic signs of discord can be found on social media.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Commerce, which ought naturally to be, among nations, as among individuals, a bond of union and friendship, has become the most fertile source of discord and animosity’.
    Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • After two years of litigation and arbitration, Adidas and Ye reached an out-of-court resolution of their contractual dispute stemming from Adidas terminating the relationship.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The incident comes roughly three months after workplace dispute led to a shooting at a Texas USPS distribution facility that left one worker dead.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • There is killing and hatred and strife on every level and spiritual wickedness in high places.
    Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025
  • In newer nations, the same process of one group’s trying to establish its dominance has sparked numerous conflicts: the twentieth century offers many examples of such strife in postcolonial countries.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Daylight saving time isn’t going away anytime soon While all but two states in the U.S. continue to observe daylight saving time, there is still disagreement about whether the practice should be eliminated or made permanent.
    Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Murkowski, who has long been critical of Trump and often expressed disagreement with the president, has previously sounded the alarm about some of DOGE's actions.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Justice Samuel Alito led four conservative justices in dissent, saying Ali lacks the authority to order the payments.
    Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Justice Samuel Alito led four conservative justices in dissent, saying Justice Ali lacks the authority to order the payments.
    Mark Sherman, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Jake is a single father who has brought Kristen up in the severe Calvinist tradition, marked by Bible disputations of Talmudic intricacy and by a radical detachment from secular and popular culture.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2023
  • And yet there is one aspect of the book which was notable: a disputation of the Richard Wrangham's work in Demonic Males.
    Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2013
Noun
  • The meeting touched on the need to strengthen Ukraine and European defense, after Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clashed at the White House on Feb. 28 over differing views on how to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
    Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The mineral rights agreement is a fantastic solution to bring about an end to this conflict.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • No controversies, no real debates over it being overrated.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The controversy surrounding Musk's involvement in Social Security stems from his push for deep cuts in government spending while also suggesting Social Security could be targeted.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dissension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissension. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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