Noise vs. Sound

synonyms

I'm pretty sire you've come across these two terms. Do you know their differences and similarities? Well, do you want me to teach them to you?

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both refer to the things we hear. However, 'sound' refers to anything pleasant, it can be someone's speech, music, words from other people, birds chirping, water running down, etc. 'Noise' indicates an unpleasant, nerve-wracking sounds.

Differences

As mentioned above, a 'sound' refers to anything we hear. It can be loud or quiet. It can be produced from anything/anyone; for example humans, mother nature, animals, music, etc. Look at the examples below:

Did anyone else hear that sound upstairs?

I'm still thinking where might that chirping sound come from.

A 'noise', on the other hand, is harsh and annoying. In other words, it is nerve-wracking. It can come from different animals, humans, etc. Check out the following examples:

He complains about us making noises and look at what he's doing right now.

Jessica heard a loud noise and panicked, not knowing what to do.

Similarities

Both refer to the things we hear. Below, we have provided useful examples for you:

I can only hear a mixture of different noises.

Just listen to the sounds of nature.

Are They Interchangeable?

Although they are used in the same context, they cannot be used interchangeably. A 'noise' is harsh-sounding and irritating, whereas, a 'sound' is not. Compare:

✓ Just listen to the sweet sound of the water flowing. It's natural music.

X Just listen to the sweet noise of the water flowing. It's natural music.

As you can see, the use of 'noise' here is inappropriate because it has a negative sense to it.

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