cacophony
Jarring sound mixture
Cacophony is harsh, jarring sound—a discordant mixture of noises that grates on the ear: the cacophony of car horns and jackhammers.
The word extends to any chaotic jumble: a cacophony of competing voices, a cacophony of architectural styles.
The opposite is euphony.
Sustained unpleasant noise
- racketUproar, scam, or paddle
- clamorLoud persistent noise
- uproarNoisy public disturbance
- blareLoud harsh noise
clangor · clatter · jangle · pandemonium · tumult · bedlam · babel · hubbub
Noisy, confused disturbance
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- mayhemViolent disorder and destruction
- havocWidespread destruction and chaos
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
riot · disarray · disorder · tumult · upheaval · confusion · disruption · bedlam
Crossed bars or harsh
- stridentHarsh and piercing
- raspingHarsh and grating
- raucousLoud and disorderly
- screechingMaking harsh high sounds
piercing · earsplitting · squawking · shrieking · blaring · screaming · hoarse · abrasive
Lack of agreement
- disharmonyAbsence of agreement
- discordanceConflicting elements together
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- jarringDisturbingly incongruous
atonality · harshness · clashing · unmelodious · tunelessness · inharmonious · unmusical · off-key
Angry, prolonged conflict
- discordLack of agreement
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
contention · bickering · squabble · wrangle · altercation · quarrel · argument · dispute
din
Sustained unpleasant noise
blare · clangor · clatter · jangle · pandemonium · tumult · bedlam · babel · hubbub · hullabaloo
commotion
Noisy, confused disturbance
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- mayhemViolent disorder and destruction
- havocWidespread destruction and chaos
frenzy · riot · disarray · disorder · tumult · upheaval · confusion · disruption · bedlam · jumble
grating
Crossed bars or harsh
screeching · piercing · earsplitting · squawking · shrieking · blaring · screaming · hoarse · abrasive · raspy
discord
Lack of agreement
- disharmonyAbsence of agreement
- discordanceConflicting elements together
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
jarring · atonality · harshness · clashing · unmelodious · tunelessness · inharmonious · unmusical · off-key · jangling
strife
Angry, prolonged conflict
- discordLack of agreement
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
clash · contention · bickering · squabble · wrangle · altercation · quarrel · argument · dispute · feud
- soundsound, sound waves, echoes, acoustics, vibrations
- loud noisesnoise, bang, crash, roar, boom
- clamorshouting, yelling, screaming, roaring, hollering
- confusionconfusion, confused, bewilderment, perplexity, baffled
- harsh soundsscreech, shriek, squawk, squeal, grate
- sound wordsclick, clank, clink, crash, gurgle
cacophonyharmony
Agreement or musical blend
euphony · melody · consonance · melodiousness · dulcet tones
cacophonyserenity
Undisturbed mental quietude
tranquility · tranquillity · calm · order · coherence