Learn a Word Daily — Cacophony
Today’s word is "Cacophony": A harsh, jarring mixture of sounds.
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kuh-KOFF-uh-nee · noun
 

Definition

  1. A harsh, jarring mixture of sounds.
  2. Any chaotic or noisy combination of voices, traffic, or competing noises.
 

Pronunciation

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Origin & Etymology

From Greek kakophonia, formed from kakos (“bad”) and phone (“voice, sound”). It entered English in the 1600s to describe unpleasant or discordant sound.
 

Nuance

Reserve cacophony for noise that feels chaotic and grating — the opposite of harmony, like traffic jams, crowded cafeterias, or clanging construction sites.
 

Usage

“The hallway erupted in a cacophony of slamming lockers and shouted goodbyes.”
 

Fun Fact

In music theory, cacophony can describe deliberate dissonance in experimental or avant-garde compositions.
 

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