cacophonous

adjective

ca·​coph·​o·​nous ka-ˈkä-fə-nəs How to pronounce cacophonous (audio)
-ˈkȯ-,
 also  -ˈka-
: 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 menBrian Moore
cacophonously adverb

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.
Bowling at run-hungry batters on largely unforgiving pitches in vast, cacophonous stadiums with huge outfields in front of a partisan and at times baying crowd — plenty of English bowlers have found bowling in Australia akin to a Sisyphean task. James Wallace, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025 Mistakes do abound on Getting Killed, from cacophonous guitar skronks to stumble-drunk hi-hat taps that completely throw off a song’s rhythm. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2025 Cramming his wide screen with the comings and goings of a 24-character ensemble, Altman creates an incredible, cacophonous entertainment, equal parts comedy and tragedy, featuring terrific original songs and an unforgettable ending. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 18 July 2025 Apart from the occasional timid car—and the less timid, cacophonous crows—the East Nashville community appeared to be following weather warnings and taking advantage of the cozy Friday at home. Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 2 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Cacophonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacophonous. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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