cacophonous

adjective

ka-ˈkä-fə-nəs How to pronounce cacophonous (audio)
Definition of cacophonousnext
as in shrill
marked by or producing a harsh combination of sounds the cacophonous chaos on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cacophonous In a packed, bustling restaurant, collective chatter reaches cacophonous levels, which is where mechanic Ninh (Nguyễn Quốc Tuấn) comes in. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026 Despite its simple premise, Raimi’s eccentric, expressive filmmaking style, combined with the film’s unyielding, cacophonous splatter horror, made The Evil Dead instantly notorious. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026 In its cacophonous surroundings, the White House stood serene. — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 11 June 2026 In the black and Carrara marble lobby, the vibe is modern and futuristic, with a cacophonous waterfall tumbling down the walls in a stream of fluorescent colors and a lone scarlet grand piano bringing a pleasing pop of color. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cacophonous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cacophonous
  1. shrill
  2. dissonant
  3. noisy
  4. unpleasant
Adjective
  • With a soprano voice that’s sharp but never shrill, O’Donovan can levitate a heartfelt melody over just about any kind of accompaniment.
    — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
  • When Caleb Hammer, a thirty-one-year-old personal-finance YouTuber, gets particularly exasperated, his voice enters a shrill upper register.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of shrill
Adjective
  • In a film, that’s where the music would come up, dissonant strings, ringing ears, the drums increasing tempo.
    — Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The score was such a beautiful, odd, dissonant piece of work.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of dissonant
Adjective
  • Bulky and noisy battery energy storage systems could be a thing of the past, as a global technology company, Sigenergy, Tuesday launched its commercial and industrial battery range in Australia.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Platner’s noisy ascension and implosion didn’t just leave the Democrats looking untrustworthy.
    — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of noisy
Adjective
  • Other research suggests trypophobic people find hole clusters as unpleasant as pictures of skin disease and that people with a history of skin problems may find hole clusters particularly uncomfortable to look at.
    — Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
  • That is followed by one focused on exploring conventional notions of beauty by uncovering the unexpected draw of unpleasant scents with Naïla Hamayed, Givaudan’s fragrance evaluator.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of unpleasant

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cacophonies
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Cite this Entry

“Cacophonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cacophonous. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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