harmony

A peaceful relationship in which people understand each other, or feel at one with their surroundings.

• The neighbors lived in harmony.
• Walking in the forest makes me feel in harmony with nature.
• Their arguments disturbed the family's harmony.

How to use it: in harmony with someone/something (They try to live in harmony with nature.); harmony between people (The project encouraged harmony between neighbors.)

Similar words: peace, accord

Opposites: conflict, discord

Common phrases: live in harmony, harmony with nature, family harmony, social harmony

The pleasant sound made when different musical notes are played or sung together.

• Their voices blended in harmony.
• The song has a simple melody and rich harmony.
• We practiced singing three-part harmonies.

How to use it: in harmony (The two singers sang in harmony.)

Opposites: dissonance

Common phrases: sing in harmony, three-part harmony, vocal harmony, rich harmony

Agreement between people, ideas, or actions, without conflict or differences that cause problems.

• Their views were in harmony.
• The policy is in harmony with our goals.
• The meeting brought greater harmony between the two sides.

How to use it: in harmony with something (The decision is in harmony with our principles.); harmony between things (There was harmony between their views on education.)

Similar words: agreement, accord, concord

Opposites: disagreement, discord

Common phrases: in harmony, harmony of views, harmony with something

A pleasing effect created by parts or sounds that fit together well.

• The design has a pleasing harmony.
• The fountain and birds created a harmony of sounds.
• Too many decorations spoiled the room's harmony.

How to use it: harmony of things (The garden offered a harmony of shapes and textures.)

Similar words: balance, unity

Opposites: discord

Common phrases: visual harmony, harmony of sounds, harmony of shapes, create harmony

The pleasing effect of colors that look good together in a picture or design.

• The painting shows beautiful color harmony.
• Warm shades create harmony throughout the room.
• She chose these colors for their harmony.

How to use it: harmony between colors (There is a gentle harmony between the blue and green.)

Similar words: color balance

Opposites: discord

Common phrases: color harmony, harmony of colors, create harmony