Cacophony — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ka-ˈkä-fə-nē/ ca·coph·o·ny

Meaning & Definition of Cacophony

Cacophony (noun)

  1. harsh or jarring sound, dissonance; specifically, harshness in the sound of words or phrases
  2. an incongruous or chaotic mixture, a striking combination

Cacophony (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound

    "the cacophony of a pet store full of animals"

    similar: babel, blare, bluster, bowwow, brawl, bruit (archaic), chatter, clamor, clangor, decibel(s), din, discordance, katzenjammer, noise, racket, rattle, roar
    related: discord, dissonance, commotion, furor, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly-burly, rumpus, tumult, uproar, clatter, jangle, bang, blast, boom, clap, crack, crash
    opposite: quiet, silence, silentness, still, stillness
    near: calm, hush, lull, quietude, serenity, tranquility

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cacophony

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cacophony:

Archaic: bruit
babel, blare, bluster, bowwow, brawl, chatter, clamor, clangor, decibel(s), din, discordance, katzenjammer, noise, racket, rattle, roar

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cacophony

Words with the opposite meaning of Cacophony:

quiet, silence, silentness, still, stillness

Related Words for Cacophony

discord, dissonance, commotion, furor, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly-burly, rumpus, tumult, uproar, clatter, jangle, bang, blast, boom, clap, crack, crash

Near Antonyms of Cacophony

calm, hush, lull, quietude, serenity, tranquility

Word Forms of Cacophony

Inflections: cacophonies

Origin & Etymology of Cacophony

borrowed from French & New Latin; French cacophonie, going back to Middle French, borrowed from New Latin cacophōnia, borrowed from Greek kakophōnía, from kakóphōnos "disagreeable-sounding, cacophonous" + -ia -ia:1

First known use: circa 1656

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cacophony

Frequently Asked Questions about Cacophony

What does "Cacophony" mean?

"Cacophony" means harsh or jarring sound, dissonance; specifically, harshness in the sound of words or phrases. As a noun, it is defined as: harsh or jarring sound, dissonance; specifically, harshness in the sound of words or phrases.

What is another word for "Cacophony"?

Other words for "Cacophony" include babel, blare, bluster, bowwow, brawl, bruit, chatter and clamor. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cacophony" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cacophony"?

There are 35 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cacophony". Common alternatives include babel, blare, bluster, bowwow, brawl, bruit, chatter, clamor, clangor and decibel(s).

What is the opposite of "Cacophony"?

Antonyms of "Cacophony" include quiet, silence, silentness, still and stillness. Near antonyms include calm, hush, lull and quietude.

How do you use "Cacophony" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cacophony" in a sentence: "the cacophony of a pet store full of animals".

Is "Cacophony" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cacophony" is a noun.

Is "Cacophony" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Cacophony" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Cacophony"?

"Cacophony" is pronounced /ka-ˈkä-fə-nē/ and divided into syllables as ca·coph·o·ny.