Cacophony
noun /kəˈkɒf(ə)ni/ — A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
Definition
A harsh, jarring mixture of sounds — discordant, unpleasant noise; the opposite of harmony or euphony.
Beyond the definition
Cacophony is sound as assault. Traffic, construction, a room of competing conversations at full volume — the experience of noise where harmony was expected. Sometimes used deliberately in music to create discomfort that makes eventual resolution more powerful.
Origin & history
From Greek kakophonia (ill-sounding), from kakos (bad) + phone (voice, sound). The opposite of euphony — the beautiful voice — cacophony is the bad voice.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The factory floor was a cacophony of machines, voices, and metal on metal.
The committee meeting had descended into cacophony — everyone speaking, no one listening.
The composer used deliberate cacophony in the third movement before the silent final chord.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Cacophony” when the meaning fits your context: A harsh, jarring mixture of sounds — discordant, unpleasant noise; the opposite of harmony or euphony.
Synonyms
discord, noise, dissonance, clamour
Antonyms
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Cacophony" mean?
Cacophony is noun meaning: A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.. A harsh, jarring mixture of sounds — discordant, unpleasant noise; the opposite of harmony or euphony.
Where does the word "Cacophony" come from?
From Greek kakophonia (ill-sounding), from kakos (bad) + phone (voice, sound). The opposite of euphony — the beautiful voice — cacophony is the bad voice.