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.
Synonyms
discord, noise, dissonance, clamour
Antonyms
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Heated argument between two adults
Two adults at a table exhibit angry, pointed gestures and hostile expressions while one raises a hand for a pause.
The physical intensity and aggressive nature of the argument imply a jarring, discordant exchange of noise. It captures the essence of a cacophony—a mixture of competing, hostile sounds that are intended to dominate rather than harmonize with one another.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration