cacophony

/kəˈkɒf(ə)ni/noun

An unpleasant, jarring mix of many noises at once.

Example sentence

“The morning began with a cacophony of car alarms and barking dogs.”

Built from Greek roots meaning "bad sound", the direct opposite of euphony. Often used of competing voices: a cacophony of opinions.

Featured as word of the day on April 15, 2026.

Related words

cactusA plant belonging to a family of spiny, water-storing succulents native to the Americas and adapted to hot, dry regions.cacheA quick-access temporary store that keeps recently or often-used data so it does not have to be fetched again from a slower source.cafeteriaAn eating place where people pick out food at a counter and carry it to a table themselves.cableA long cord or line used to link things together physically.cajoleTo coax an unwilling person into doing something, often with flattery or promises.cabinThe section of an aircraft where the passengers sit.