Makes a loud, harsh, repetitive laughing sound, often associated with witches or hens, or to talk loudly and suddenly.
From Middle Dutch 'kakelen,' likely imitative of the sound itself. The word has been used since the 1400s to describe both the laugh and the sound hens make.
Because witches in fairy tales cackle with that distinctive harsh laugh, the sound became so linked with evil that even innocent cackling can feel slightly sinister—language shapes how we perceive sounds.
Stereotypically assigned to witches and older women in folklore; carries connotations of malice, irrationality, and feminine monstrosity in literature.
Use descriptively (e.g., 'laughed loudly') rather than as a loaded verb; avoid when the subject is female unless deliberately reclaiming the term.
["laughed loudly","laughed shrilly","chuckled"]
Older women's laughter has been pathologized; using 'cackles' for women can reinforce witch-hunt narratives.
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