Discordant vs. cacophonous: what’s the difference?
The short answer
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.
What they have in common
Both discordant and cacophonous describe situations involving unpleasantness, particularly in relation to sound or a lack of harmony.
Examples
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.
Which one is more common?
Viu um erro neste artigo? Avise a gente