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 speec... more

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. less