cacophonous
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of cacophonous
From the Greek word kakóphōnos, dating back to 1790–1800. See caco-, -phone, -ous
Explanation
The adjective cacophonous describes loud, harsh sounds, like the cacophonous racket your brother and his band mates make while trying to learn how to play their instruments. To correctly pronounce cacophonous, accent the second syllable: "cuh-CAW-fuh-nus." It is related to the Greek words kakos, meaning "bad, evil," and phone, or "voice." You may feel like you're facing something evil if you’re bombarded by the cacophonous sounds of, say, political pundits yelling at one another, or the chaotic sounds of traffic and voices on a busy urban street. Cacophonous is the opposite of harmonious.
Vocabulary lists containing cacophonous
100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
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Turn It Up! Synonyms for "Loud"
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Paper Towns
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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.
The Cacophonous Insects Considered A Delicious Alternative Act: To fund a cookbook with fabulous new recipes in 2038.
From Washington Post • Jul. 29, 2021
Cacophonous bursts of earsplitting sounds and a pond-scum palette accompany Michael’s gradual invasion by bugs and the desire to clomp around all night, grunting and snorting.
From New York Times • Aug. 21, 2014
And then the warriors standing round about Sent up from fifty throats a mighty shout, As when o'er blood-sprent fields the long cheers roll Cacophonous, for him who kicks a goal.
From Gawayne and the Green Knight A Fairy Tale by Lewis, Charlton Miner
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.
