"Discordant" vs. "cacophonous": dissonance in words

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper Today, 05:26

English.me team member

Discordant and cacophonous. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "discordant" and "cacophonous" describe situations involving unpleasantness, particularly in relation to sound or a lack of harmony.

What is different?

"Discordant" can refer to a lack of agreement or harmony not only in sound but also in opinions or elements, whereas "cacophonous" specifically describes harsh, jarring sounds.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Discordant

The discordant notes from the beginner's violin made everyone wince.
Their discordant opinions made it difficult to reach a consensus.

Cacophonous

The cacophonous roar of the city traffic overwhelmed him.
A cacophonous mix of alarms and sirens filled the air.