as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds
the cacophonous chaos on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
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Recent Examples of cacophonous
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
As ovaries decline, hormones change, and a harmonious symphony can turn into a cacophonous noise, impacting the entire body.
—Karina Zaiets, USA Today, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cacophonous
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
As ovaries decline, hormones change, and a harmonious symphony can turn into a cacophonous noise, impacting the entire body.
—Karina Zaiets, USA Today, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cacophonous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cacophonous
Adjective
-
Arriving in January, the California Post will be Murdoch’s transplant of his right-leaning tabloid the New York Post, replete with shrill headlines and randy gossip.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
11 Sep. 2025
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One option is to simply double down on the existing approach and become shriller.—
Robert G. Eccles,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Jonny Greenwood’s score moves between soaring strings and dissonant piano keys, alternately soothing and anxious; a few pieces composed by Jon Brion add an ambient layer of wistfulness.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
26 Sep. 2025
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Jonny Greenwood’s score moves between soaring strings and dissonant piano keys, alternately soothing and anxious; a few pieces composed by Jon Brion add an ambient layer of wistfulness.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This simple yet powerful step turned noisy, unreliable photon signals into clean bursts of single photons — a breakthrough for future quantum technologies.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
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How to stand out in such a noisy season?—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But the ever-reliable consumer is beginning to look shaky, courtesy of an unpleasant mix of a stagnating job market and sticky inflation.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
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The power is accompanied by a loud, unpleasant exhaust note.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cacophonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cacophonous. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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