- Today's Word
Cacophony
[kuh-KOF-uh-nee]
Definition
- (noun) A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. It’s used to describe any loud, confusing, and unpleasant noise, often made up of many different sounds happening simultaneously.
Example
The city street was filled with a cacophony of car horns, construction work, and street vendors shouting, making it nearly impossible to hear oneself think.
Fun Fact
The word “cacophony” comes from the Greek words “kakos,” meaning “bad,” and “phone,” meaning “sound” or “voice.” It was first used in English in the 17th century to describe unpleasant sounds in music. Interestingly, its antonym is “euphony,” which describes pleasant or harmonious sounds. In literature, cacophony is sometimes used intentionally as a stylistic device to create a sense of chaos or discord, often through the use of words with harsh-sounding consonants or clashing vowels.
(adjective) Angry and bitter in manner or tone; filled with ill will and resentment that makes any resolution feel impossible.
The divorce proceedings were so acrimonious that the attorneys on both sides later said they’d never seen a settlement table that hostile — and both had been practicing for twenty years.