cacophonous
/kəˈkɒfənəs/
Group 3Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds GRE
Example in Context
The cacophonous debate on the floor of parliament descended into chaos as members shouted over one another.
Synonyms
noisyharshdiscordant
Etymology
Bad sounds combined create a harsh, discordant noise.
- kakos (Greek) — bad
- phone (Greek) — voice/sound
Memory Aid
🤢Sounds like “cough-off-anus”
Imagine someone COUGHING a cacophonous symphony out of their ANUS!
Visual Association
🔊A chaotic orchestra where every instrument is playing its own random tune.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “cacophonous” mean on the GRE?
cacophonous (adjective) means “Involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds”. The cacophonous debate on the floor of parliament descended into chaos as members shouted over one another.
How to remember “cacophonous” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “cacophonous” sounds like “cough-off-anus”. Imagine someone COUGHING a cacophonous symphony out of their ANUS!
What are synonyms for “cacophonous”?
Common synonyms: noisy, harsh, discordant.