| Cacophony |
Cacophony (from the Greek word kakophonia - kakos (bad) + phoni (voice, sound)) refers to sound that is harsh and unpleasant-sounding. The opposite of cacophony is euphony, meaning musical and pleasant. The closely related term dissonance implies a combination of sounds which clash; its antonym, harmony, suggests sounds that fit together well. Dissonance and harmony have musical connotations whereas cacophony and euphony more often refer to speech. Examples 1. Cedric is a snake. This cacophony uses the k sound repeatedly to produce a sound unpleasant to the ear. 2. I loathe your foul manner. This cacophony uses harsh words such as loathe and foul, getting across an idea unpleasant to hear. |