cacophonous
2
8.4
- adjective
- /kæˈkɑfənəs/
:
cacofónico
- The street was filled with the cacophonous sounds of loud engines and blaring horns.
- cacophonous dialogue
Examples
-
The opening solidifies behind her, and then we hear a sudden burst of static, followed by a cacophonous barrage of voices.
Fiction book (1997) -
Tony listened to the cacophonous traffic outside the presidential palace and the distant chanting of his name.
Fiction book (2000) -
The reaction to these developments has been cacophonous.
Academic text (2003) -
For some visitors, the effect is cacophonous, and audio levels and resolution of video footage continue to be adjusted even now.
Academic text (2001) -
The woman opens her mouth and emits a noise so cacophonous, it calls to mind the days of Sens-a-round.
Fiction book (1999) -
Along the rows of tables, I could hear the cracking and shaking of a deafening, cacophonous orchestra.
Fiction book (1994) -
But as the chant focuses on the title, things coalesce into a vibrating, cacophonous vacuum, sucking everything into it.
Blog text (29) -
The sounds were cacophonous, a mélange of different languages, animal sounds, the cries of vendors, even distant
Fiction book (1990) -
"White Riot" opens to the sound of sirens blazing, a warning of the cacophonous violence posed as music that the listener is about to endure.
Academic text (2014) -
Cacophonous chords and the rhythmical pounding of chairs in unison forecast Fuente Ovejuna's imminent awakening to collective resistance.
Academic text (1997)
Synonyms
31
4.8
A very high, sharp sound that is unpleasant and loud
31
7.1
Making a loud, rough, and unpleasant sound that hurts your ears
20
6.1
A loud, harsh sound that feels unpleasant and surprising
14
3.7
Harsh, rough sound or voice that is unpleasant to hear
7
6.5
A low, rough voice that sounds harsh and scratchy
2
5.4
A high, harsh, unpleasant sound like a loud scream
1
8.1
A thin, harsh ringing sound like metal hitting together
1
4.4
A very loud, unpleasant sound that hurts your ears
1
7.1
Colors, opinions, or sounds that do not match and seem to clash
1
9.3
Has a loud, harsh sound that is unpleasant
1
6.2
A harsh, unpleasant sound or voice that is hard to listen to
1
8.9
Making a loud, ringing sound like metal hitting metal
1
7.2
Making a very high, loud, annoying sound that hurts your ears
1
8.2
Very loud and high in sound like a scream
1
7.5
A loud harsh sound like a bird's cry that is unpleasant
Making a harsh, clashing sound
A sound that clashes with other sounds and feels unpleasant
A harsh, unpleasant sound that hurts the ears
A sound that does not fit with other tones and seems rough
Not having a pleasant, musical sound
Harsh and rough in a way that hurts the ears
A voice or sound that is rough and unpleasant
Making a loud, harsh, grating sound like some insects make
It makes a series of loud metal clanking noises
A harsh, high laugh that sounds like a hen
Having a harsh, unpleasant mix of colors, sounds, or styles
Antonyms
How Harsh
Surface Forms
Morphology
cacophonous = cacophony (transparent) = cacophon + ous
The adjective is a straightforward derivation from the noun 'cacophony' (harsh, discordant sound) with the standard adjectival suffix '-ous' meaning 'having or characterized by'.
Etymology
The word cacophonous comes from Greek parts caco- meaning 'bad' and -phone meaning 'sound', the same phone in 'telephone' that helps you remember it is about sound. So cacophonous means 'bad sound', which is why we use it for harsh, unpleasant noise.