Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having a harsh, unpleasant sound; discordant.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Sounding harshly; ill-sounding; discordant: opposed to euphonious.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Containing, consisting of, or producing harsh, unpleasant or discordant sounds.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective having an unpleasant sound

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Greek kakophōnos : kakos, bad; see kakka- in Indo-European roots + phōnē, sound; see bhā- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Ancient Greek κακός (kakos, "bad") + φωνή (phonē, "voice").

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Examples

  • One cannot escape the feeling that, for these slim tales, appearance between these covers is a kind of cacophonous family reunion, where the relatives have long been far-flung across continents, and yet immediately have thousands of things to say.

    SFGate: Top News Stories Carolina De Robertis 2010

  • One cannot escape the feeling that, for these slim tales, appearance between these covers is a kind of cacophonous family reunion, where the relatives have long been far-flung across continents, and yet immediately have thousands of things to say.

    Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local editor@denverpost.com ( 2010

  • One cannot escape the feeling that, for these slim tales, appearance between these covers is a kind of cacophonous family reunion, where the relatives have long been far-flung across continents, and yet immediately have thousands of things to say.

    SFGate: Top News Stories Carolina De Robertis 2010

  • Some Singaporeans chimed in, asking 'how can Orchard Road be a world-class shopping haven and rival other major cities such as Tokyo when it is a free-for-all zone for anyone to hawk their stuff?', perhaps in reference to the "particularly irksome", "cacophonous" strains of buskers trying to make a living amidst the noise of nearby roadshows.

    The Online Citizen 2008

  • In light of this "curious case of the cacophonous snack pack," I find that many people see sustainability as a version of a Faustian dilemma; they often knowingly make choices that have immediate personal benefits, but in the long run are disastrous for all of us.

    Ron Ashkenas: Sustainability's Faustian Dilemma Ron Ashkenas 2011

  • In light of this "curious case of the cacophonous snack pack," I find that many people see sustainability as a version of a Faustian dilemma; they often knowingly make choices that have immediate personal benefits, but in the long run are disastrous for all of us.

    Ron Ashkenas: Sustainability's Faustian Dilemma Ron Ashkenas 2011

  • We're also aware that the large crowds expected at the rallies could produce a cacophonous din, one in which you are unable to discern which jokes are being made by audience members, counter-protesters, or the day's main attractions — and, worse still, where observers may think you are laughing at an anti-Republican joke when you are actually laughing at an anti-Democrat joke.

    How to cover satirical political events - chuckle in a non-genuine manner Roy Greenslade 2010

  • In light of this "curious case of the cacophonous snack pack," I find that many people see sustainability as a version of a Faustian dilemma; they often knowingly make choices that have immediate personal benefits, but in the long run are disastrous for all of us.

    Ron Ashkenas: Sustainability's Faustian Dilemma Ron Ashkenas 2011

  • William Brice's work has been a low key yet persistent force in the increasingly cacophonous Los Angeles art landscape over the decades.

    ArtScene: Southern California's Top Ten Exhibition Picks for 2010 ArtScene 2011

  • William Brice's work has been a low key yet persistent force in the increasingly cacophonous Los Angeles art landscape over the decades.

    ArtScene: Southern California's Top Ten Exhibition Picks for 2010 ArtScene 2011

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