Cacophony/kəˈkɑːfəni/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Harsh Sounds Used to describe soundscapes that are jarring to the ear and not harmonious. The factory machines produced a cacophony that was unbearable. Pro Tip 2/3Negative Emotion Conveys a sense of irritation or discomfort due to the unpleasant sounds. Awoken by a cacophony of car alarms, she started her day feeling frazzled. Pro Tip 3/3Unmanaged Chaos Implies a lack of control over the contributing sounds, suggesting disorganization. The uncoordinated band practice descended into cacophony.