-ənē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: French & New Latin; French cacophonie & New Latin cacophonia, from Greek kakophōnia, from kak- cac- + -phōnia -phony
1. : harsh or discordant sound : dissonance
marshes sent forth the multitudinous cacophony of song and croak and trill and call and scream — D.C.Peattie
specifically : harshness in the sound of words or phrases
the subtle blending of vowels and consonants so as to avoid even the suspicion of cacophony — Irving Babbitt
— opposed to euphony
2. : an instance of cacophony
wooden wheels screeching a cacophony — American Guide Series: Minnesota