cacophonous

[kuh-kof-uh-nuhs]

adjective

1. having a harsh or discordant sound.

   Synonyms: raucous, grating, strident, dissonant

Other Word Forms

• cacophonously adverb
• uncacophonous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cacophonous¹

From the Greek word kakóphōnos, dating back to 1790–1800. See caco-, -phone, -ous

Example Sentences

A cacophonous, wraparound self-portrait more than 40 feet tall by 70 feet long, it’s not just a visual assault, it’s too massive to be experienced in its setting.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In my little corner of Silver Lake, 7 p.m. commenced a daily cacophonous communal concert of pots and pans banging, trombones and trumpets blaring, dogs and coyotes howling: a grateful group roar.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In our cacophonous era, a library provides the solace of one author’s voice whispering into one reader’s ear.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It is, inarguably, a very different show than the one that debuted three years ago, with far fewer cacophonous kitchen scenes, and many more Chicago-appreciating exteriors.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This has brought more traffic and given the city a cacophonous soundtrack of honking horns.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• discordant 
• noisy 
• raucous