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Cacophony
01
a harsh, jarring mixture of sounds
Examples
The city street erupted in a cacophony of horns, sirens, and shouting.
A cacophony of barking dogs shattered the morning silence.
02
a literary device that uses a mixture of unpleasant, inharmonious, and harsh sounds to show disorder or chaos
What is "cacophony"?
Cacophony is a literary device where harsh, unpleasant, or clashing sounds are used to create a sense of disruption or discomfort. This often involves using sharp or grating consonant sounds that do not blend well together. For example, the phrase "The clash and clamor of the chaotic crowd" uses cacophony to convey a sense of disorder and noise. Cacophony is used to enhance the mood, reflect chaos or discomfort, and draw attention to particular aspects of a text.
Examples
In the poem, the poet used cacophony to evoke the tumultuous emotions of the protagonist as they grappled with inner turmoil.
The cacophony of discordant voices in the novel reflected the protagonist's inner turmoil and existential crisis.
