cacophonous

adjective

ca·​coph·​o·​nous ka-ˈkä-fə-nəs How to pronounce cacophonous (audio)
-ˈkȯ-,
 also  -ˈka-
Synonyms of cacophonousnext
: marked by cacophony : harsh-sounding
like an old battlefield, once cacophonous with the clash of steel, the roar of cannon, the screams of wounded and dying men— Brian Moore
cacophonously adverb

Synonyms

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Examples of cacophonous in a Sentence

the cacophonous chaos on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Of the collection, Sundy Praia is the most luxurious, with 15 tented villas set where the cacophonous jungle meets the tawny coast. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025 The market’s message and intentions are always worth debating — especially so during an intense pullback, with cacophonous policy headlines and piqued investor emotions animating the action day to day. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2025 But with the emergence of digital media, today's cacophonous environment features billions of podcasts, blogs, streaming channels, and social media influencer accounts that each cater to micro-viewerships with zero editorial oversight or accountability. — Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 There is a primordial quality to the woods that oscillates between cacophonous forest chatter and eerie silence in the space of a ridge or two. — Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 2 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cacophonous

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin cacophōnus (borrowed from Greek kakóphōnos "disagreeable-sounding," from kako- caco- + -phōnos "having a sound [of the kind specified]," adjective derivative of phōnḗ "sound made by something living, voice, speech") + -ous — more at phono-

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cacophonous was in 1782

Rhymes for cacophonous

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Cite this Entry

“Cacophonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacophonous. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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