Hoarse

Hoarse describes a voice that sounds rough, scratchy, and strained, often due to irritation or inflammation of the vocal cords.

This change in vocal quality makes speech difficult and may be accompanied by a loss of volume or changes in pitch.

The condition often results from overuse, infection, allergies, or irritation from substances like smoke.

Hoarseness can range from a mild roughness to a complete inability to speak, and may indicate an underlying medical condition requiring treatment.

The term can also be used metaphorically to describe sounds resembling this vocal quality, like a creaking door or a rusty engine.

Hoarse meaning with examples

• After shouting at the football game all afternoon, John's voice became hoarse, making it difficult for him to speak clearly. The next day, he could barely whisper.
• The singer's voice sounded hoarse after battling a severe cold, affecting her ability to hit the high notes. She decided to reschedule her concert.
• Due to the constant exposure to factory fumes, the workers were suffering a hoarse voice and developed chronic coughs as a result of the constant irritation.
• The old radio played a song, the static made the singer's voice sound hoarse and distorted, which made the music interesting.
• Having allergies during the peak of pollen season, Sarah developed a hoarse voice, adding to the general discomfort of her congestion.