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 That chaos is calibrated for maximum audacity thanks to visual effects supervisor Dan Sturm’s prudently incorporated CGI, which doesn’t skimp on the wow factor and is further amped up by composer Cody Fry’s cacophonous, rambunctious score. Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2024 With all the instruments beginning to swell, forming a cacophonous sound, Ross needed a way to ground it all back and bridge with a gentler and softer tone. Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 15 Aug. 2024 The album proves that Ice Spice can find the pocket no matter how cacophonous or sinister the beat, yet another reminder that rap hasn’t been a boys’ club for years. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 26 July 2024 Rahimi was particularly cacophonous but no anomaly: Data compiled by political scientists Lee Epstein, Andrew Martin and Michael Nelson showed that the term that just ended featured the highest number of concurring opinions per case since 1937, as far back as their records reach. Ruth Marcus, Washington Post, 12 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cacophonous 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cacophonous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near cacophonous

Cite this Entry

“Cacophonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacophonous. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

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