Words used to describe someone's voice
adenoidal
adjective
if someone’s voice is adenoidal, some of the sound seems to come through their nose
appealing
adjective
an appealing look, voice, etc. shows that you want help, approval, or agreement
breathy
adjective
with loud breathing noises
brittle
adjective
if you speak in a brittle voice, you sound as if you are about to cry
croaky
adjective
if someone’s voice sounds croaky, they speak in a low rough voice that sounds like they have a sore throat
dead
adjective
if someone’s eyes are dead, or if their voice is dead, they feel or show no emotion
disembodied
adjective
a disembodied voice comes from someone who you cannot see
flat
adjective
spoken in a voice that does not go up and down. This word is often used for describing the speech of people from a particular region.
fruity
adjective
a fruity voice or laugh is deep and strong in a pleasant way
grating
adjective
a grating voice, laugh, or sound is unpleasant and annoying
gravelly
adjective
a gravelly voice sounds low and rough
gruff
adjective
a gruff voice has a rough low sound
guttural
adjective
a guttural sound is deep and made at the back of your throat
high-pitched
adjective
a high-pitched voice or sound is very high
hoarse
adjective
someone who is hoarse or has a hoarse voice speaks in a low rough voice, usually because their throat is sore
honeyed
adjective
honeyed words or a honeyed voice sound very nice but you cannot trust the person who is speaking
husky
adjective
a husky voice is deep and sounds hoarse (=as if you have a sore throat), often in an attractive way
low
adjective
a low voice or sound is quiet and difficult to hear
low
adjective
used for describing a deep voice or a sound that has a long wavelength
low
adverb
in a deep voice, or with a deep sound
matter-of-fact
adjective
used about someone’s behavior or voice
modulated
adjective
a modulated voice is controlled and pleasant to listen to
monotonous
adjective
a monotonous sound or voice is boring and unpleasant because it does not change in loudness or become higher or lower
nasal
adjective
someone with a nasal voice sounds as if they are speaking through their nose
orotund
adjective
an orotund voice is loud and clear
penetrating
adjective
a penetrating voice or sound is so high or loud that it makes you slightly uncomfortable
quietly
adverb
in a quiet voice
raucous
adjective
a raucous voice or noise is loud and sounds rough
ringing
adjective
a ringing sound or voice is very loud and clear
rough
adjective
a rough voice is not soft and is unpleasant to listen to
shrill
adjective
a shrill noise or voice is very loud, high, and unpleasant
silvery
adjective
a silvery voice or sound is clear, light, and pleasant
singsong
adjective
if you speak in a singsong voice, your voice rises and falls in a musical way
small
adjective
a small voice or sound is quiet
smoky
adjective
a smoky voice or smoky eyes are sexually attractive in a slightly mysterious way
soft-spoken
adjective
speaking or said in a quiet gentle voice
sotto voce
adjective, adverb
in a very quiet voice
stentorian
adjective
a stentorian voice sounds very loud and severe
strangled
adjective
a strangled sound is one that someone stops before they finish making it
strangulated
adjective
strangled
strident
adjective
a strident voice or sound is loud and unpleasant
taut
adjective
used about something such as a voice or expression that shows someone is nervous or angry
thick
adjective
if your voice is thick with an emotion, it sounds less clear than usual because of the emotion
thickly
adverb
with a low voice that comes mostly from your throat
thin
adjective
a thin voice or sound is high and unpleasant to listen to
throaty
adjective
a throaty sound is low and seems to come from deep in your throat
tight
adjective
a tight voice or expression shows that you are nervous or annoyed
toneless
adjective
a toneless voice does not express any emotion
tremulous
adjective
if something such as your voice or smile is tremulous, it is not steady, for example because you are afraid or excited
wheezy
adjective
a wheezy noise sounds as if it is made by someone who has difficulty breathing
wobbly
adjective
if your voice is wobbly, it goes up and down, usually because you are frightened, not confident, or are going to cry
in an undertone
using a quiet voice so that someone cannot hear you
someone’s dulcet tones
the sound of someone’s voice as they speak