cognitive dissonance
noun
: psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes held simultaneously
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Reading all this barely six months after the bloody, unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine can give the reader a bad case of cognitive dissonance. 
Edward Kosner, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 The rapid dehiscing also raises alarming questions about the industry’s reopening plans, and underscores a profound cognitive dissonance about the purpose of awards in the year 2021. Lee Seymour, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2021 The natural gas industry provides another interesting example of cognitive dissonance. Jonathan Rose, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2022 The account creates a sort of cognitive dissonance. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Aug. 2022 In times of extended uncertainty, widespread grief, and cognitive dissonance, people look to history for reassurance or novels and other art for wisdom. Eleanor Cummins, The New Republic, 10 Mar. 2022 What's happening here is another attempt to cope with the cognitive dissonance Vance diagnosed. Steve Larkin, The Week, 23 Apr. 2022 Reconciling unusually high temperatures with the looks for next summer on Milan Fashion Week runways is becoming an exercise in cognitive dissonance. Colleen Barry, ajc, 19 June 2022 Twitter’s most committed users often love the service and hate it with equal passion, two feelings that can coexist without much cognitive dissonance. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2022 See More
Edward Kosner, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 The rapid dehiscing also raises alarming questions about the industry’s reopening plans, and underscores a profound cognitive dissonance about the purpose of awards in the year 2021. Lee Seymour, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2021 The natural gas industry provides another interesting example of cognitive dissonance. Jonathan Rose, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2022 The account creates a sort of cognitive dissonance. Bryan Schott, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Aug. 2022 In times of extended uncertainty, widespread grief, and cognitive dissonance, people look to history for reassurance or novels and other art for wisdom. Eleanor Cummins, The New Republic, 10 Mar. 2022 What's happening here is another attempt to cope with the cognitive dissonance Vance diagnosed. Steve Larkin, The Week, 23 Apr. 2022 Reconciling unusually high temperatures with the looks for next summer on Milan Fashion Week runways is becoming an exercise in cognitive dissonance. Colleen Barry, ajc, 19 June 2022 Twitter’s most committed users often love the service and hate it with equal passion, two feelings that can coexist without much cognitive dissonance. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1957, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
cognitive dissonance
noun
: psychological conflict resulting from simultaneously held incongruous beliefs and attitudes (as a fondness for smoking and a belief that it is harmful)