cacophonous
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- cacophonously adverb
- uncacophonous adjective
Etymology
Origin of cacophonous
From the Greek word kakóphōnos, dating back to 1790–1800. See caco-, -phone, -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s already quite hot inside my shoebox apartment as the radiators clank away, drowning out my upstairs neighbor’s heavy footsteps with their cacophonous symphony.
From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026
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.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025
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.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2025
This has brought more traffic and given the city a cacophonous soundtrack of honking horns.
From BBC • Mar. 15, 2025
Outside, the cacophonous uproar resumed louder than ever.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
