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

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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 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 Tuesday evening’s event didn’t devolve into the chaos of a cacophonous debate last week but was far livelier than a relatively sleepy one last month. — Ben Paviour may 6, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026 Yet a cacophonous encore is now playing across the South after a Supreme Court ruling last week. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 May 2026 Fabric And Texture Color and pattern aren’t the only visual aspects that can stand between a cohesive look and one that seems like a cacophonous scene. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cacophonous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cacophonous
  1. shrill
  2. dissonant
  3. noisy
  4. unpleasant
Adjective
  • The shrill call of the shofar ensures no one falls asleep during lengthy Jewish High Holy Day services each year.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Amid the rumblings of construction at nearby David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, the sound of a shrill whistle and chopping feet at the nearby Murfin Family Practice Fields signaled one thing.
    — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of shrill
Adjective
  • The score was such a beautiful, odd, dissonant piece of work.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 July 2026
  • This is reminding me of watching Slint play a reunion show in 2014 under the I-65 highway at a festival in Louisville, and how simultaneously awesome and cognitively dissonant that experience was.
    — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 June 2026
Definition of dissonant
Adjective
  • The household surveys always noisy, but this is very, very large.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • For three decades, in an increasingly noisy and stress-filled world, Miraval Arizona has embraced its philosophy of Life in Balance, pioneering the concept of transformative wellbeing through mindfulness.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of noisy
Adjective
  • Activewear After sweating it out in your beloved activewear, avoid using the hotter temperatures in the washing machine to sanitize and remove unpleasant odors.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The mediocre screen was an unpleasant surprise given that this thing advertised 100 percent sRGB gamut coverage when it was announced and on its product page for many weeks (the Internet Archive captures it here).
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpleasant

Browse Nearby Words

cacophonies
cacophonous
cacophony
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Cite this Entry

“Cacophonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cacophonous. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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