Consonant — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈkän(t)-s(ə-)nənt/ con·so·nant

Meaning & Definition of Consonant

Consonant (adjective)

  1. being in agreement or harmony, free from elements making for discord
  2. marked by musical consonances
  3. having similar sounds

Consonant (noun)

  1. one of a class of speech sounds (such as \p\, \g\, \n\, \l\, \s\, \r\) characterized by constriction or closure at one or more points in the breath channel; also, a letter representing a consonant —usually used in English of any letter except a, e, i, o, and u

Consonant (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having the parts agreeably related

    "the temples and palaces of ancient Greece are among the most consonant buildings in architectural history"

    similar: balanced, congruous, eurythmic, harmonic, harmonious
    related: even, proportioned, regular, symmetrical, aesthetic, artistic, becoming, elegant, graceful, tasteful, agreeable, felicitous, pleasant, pleasing, satisfying, coherent, cohesive, compatible, coordinated, correspondent, matched, matching, Apollinian, Apollonian
    opposite: disharmonic, disharmonious, incongruous, inharmonic, inharmonious, unbalanced
    near: asymmetrical, disordered, irregular, skewed, unequal, uneven, unsymmetrical, distasteful, graceless, inartistic, inelegant, tasteless, unaesthetic, unbecoming, ungraceful, unlovely, disagreeable, displeasing, dissatisfying, infelicitous, unfortunate, unpleasant, unsightly, clashing, conflicting, disunited, incompatible, uncoordinated

  2. not having or showing any apparent conflict

    "his gentle behavior is consonant with his expressed belief in pacifism"

    similar: accordant, coherent, compatible, concordant, conformable (to), congruent, congruous, consistent, correspondent (with or to), harmonious, nonconflicting, of a piece
    related: self-consistent, appropriate, befitting, felicitous, fit, fitting, meet, proper, right, suitable
    opposite: conflicting, conflictive, incompatible, incongruous, inconsistent, inharmonious, noncompatible
    near: improper, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, infelicitous, unsuitable

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Consonant

The most common words with a similar meaning to Consonant:

balanced, congruous, eurythmic, harmonic, harmonious, accordant, coherent, compatible, concordant, conformable (to), congruent, consistent, correspondent (with or to), nonconflicting, of a piece

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Consonant

Words with the opposite meaning of Consonant:

disharmonic, disharmonious, incongruous, inharmonic, inharmonious, unbalanced, conflicting, conflictive, incompatible, inconsistent, noncompatible

Related Words for Consonant

even, proportioned, regular, symmetrical, aesthetic, artistic, becoming, elegant, graceful, tasteful, agreeable, felicitous, pleasant, pleasing, satisfying, cohesive, coordinated, correspondent, matched, matching, Apollinian, Apollonian, self-consistent, appropriate, befitting, fit, fitting, meet, proper, right

Near Antonyms of Consonant

asymmetrical, disordered, irregular, skewed, unequal, uneven, unsymmetrical, distasteful, graceless, inartistic, inelegant, tasteless, unaesthetic, unbecoming, ungraceful, unlovely, disagreeable, displeasing, dissatisfying, infelicitous, unfortunate, unpleasant, unsightly, clashing, disunited, uncoordinated, improper, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt

Word Forms of Consonant

Derived words: consonantly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Consonant

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, "in conformity with," borrowed from Latin consonant-, consonans "sounding in accord, agreeing, fitting," from present participle of consonāre "to sound together, agree, be in harmony," from con- con- + sonāre "to make a noise, sound" sound:2

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Consonant

consonant shift

Frequently Asked Questions about Consonant

What does "Consonant" mean?

"Consonant" means being in agreement or harmony, free from elements making for discord. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: being in agreement or harmony, free from elements making for discord. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Consonant"?

Other words for "Consonant" include balanced, congruous, eurythmic, harmonic, harmonious, accordant, coherent and compatible. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Consonant" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Consonant"?

There are 46 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Consonant". Common alternatives include balanced, congruous, eurythmic, harmonic, harmonious, accordant, coherent, compatible, concordant and conformable (to).

What is the opposite of "Consonant"?

Antonyms of "Consonant" include disharmonic, disharmonious, incongruous, inharmonic, inharmonious, unbalanced, conflicting and conflictive. Near antonyms include asymmetrical, disordered, irregular and skewed.

How do you use "Consonant" in a sentence?

Examples of "Consonant" in a sentence: "the temples and palaces of ancient Greece are among the most consonant buildings in architectural history"; "his gentle behavior is consonant with his expressed belief in pacifism".

Is "Consonant" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Consonant" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Consonant"?

"Consonant" is pronounced /ˈkän(t)-s(ə-)nənt/ and divided into syllables as con·so·nant.

What is the origin of the word "Consonant"?

"Consonant" comes from Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, "in conformity with," borrowed from Latin consonant-, consonans "sounding in accord, agreeing, fitting," from present participle of consonāre "to sound together, agree, be in harmony," from con- con- + sonāre "to make a noise, sound" sound:2. First known use: 15th century.