Sixteen brief sounds (music, vehicle sounds, and artificial sounds) were judged on each of 15 bipolar scales by 20 subjects. Without instructions, subjects use the descriptors “loud” and “noisy” as synonomous. On the other hand, subjects do not equate either loudness or noisiness with acceptability, although there appears to be a moderate relationship when only vehicle or aircraft sounds are rated by subjects. The implications of these findings for instructions in psychoacoustic research are discussed.