Word Of The Week: Cacophony

The word of the week is “cacophony.”

Cacophony

1. a harsh discordance of sound; dissonance
2. a meaningless jumble of sounds
3. in music: the frequent use of discords that seem harsh or out of place

“Cacophony” derives from a combination of Greek words: phone (sound or voice) and kakos (bad). Similar derivations from the root word phone include symphony (together + sound = harmony) and polyphony (many + sounds) which refers to a style of music in which more than one independent melody is placed together. Similarly, the word euphony (good + sound) refers to a pleasing or sweet sound.    

It’s also fun to note that cacophony might be considered an example of “onomatopoeia,” the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named. Don’t you think cacophony has a bit of a cacophonous sound? 

Synonyms for cacophony:

• discord
• jangle
• caterwauling

Examples of “cacophony” usage

The various musicians tuning up their instruments before the concert created a cacophony of sound that belied the symphonic production they were about to display.  

When I sit on my garden bench on an early spring morning the first thing I notice is the cacophony of birdsong that shatters the otherwise serene setting.

How would you use “cacophony” in a sentence?

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