Words / C2

k-uh-KOF-uh-nee/kəˈkɒfəni/

A cacophony is a mix of loud, clashing sounds — unpleasant as a blend, not one single bang. Noise is everyday; din is close and more British-informal. Writers like a cacophony of horns / voices when many sources collide. In speech, a racket or an awful mix of noise will do; cacophony is slightly literary. Do not use it for a quiet disagreement of opinions unless you want a metaphor, and even then once is enough.

Meaning

A mixture of loud, unpleasant sounds.

Examples

• “A cacophony of horns filled the street.”
• “A cacophony of alarms made the station unusable.”
• “The soundtrack is a deliberate cacophony, not a mistake.”

Good to know

a cacophony of + sounds. Harsh mix. Everyday: racket / din. Slightly literary.

Near in meaning

din

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