Cacophonous/kəˈkɑːfənəs/ Definition 1 of 1Pro Tip 1/3Harsh Unpleasant Use 'cacophonous' to describe sounds that are jarring and uncomfortable to hear. The cacophonous alarms woke everyone abruptly. Pro Tip 2/3Negative Emotion 'Cacophonous' often implies that the sound is annoying or upsetting. The cacophonous debate made it hard to concentrate. Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use The term can be used metaphorically to describe situations that are chaotic or not harmonious. The meeting was cacophonous, full of conflicting ideas.