dissonance

/ˈdɪsənəns/
noun
  1. A lack of agreement or harmony between things; conflict or tension.
    • There was a clear dissonance between the company's promises and its actions.
    • She felt a cognitive dissonance when her beliefs conflicted with her behavior.
    • The dissonance in the team's opinions made it hard to reach a decision.
  2. In music, a combination of sounds that is harsh or unpleasant to the ear.
    • The composer used dissonance to create a feeling of tension in the piece.
    • The sudden dissonance in the chord made the audience sit up and listen.
    • Jazz music often includes dissonance to add complexity and emotion.