How to Use breathy in a Sentence

breathy

adjective
  • The flat-six fires with a gruff growl, then settles to a breathy idle.
    — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2021
  • Cyrus shows off breathy vocals, growls, and belts, all in just three minutes.
    — Justin Curto, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2021
  • There are a lot of reasons why your voice might suddenly sound breathy, raspy, or strained.
    — Korin Miller, Health.com, 10 Feb. 2022
  • This leads to a breathy, raspy, or strained sound that can be softer in volume or lower in pitch.
    — Korin Miller, Health.com, 10 Feb. 2022
  • But Tanya Tagaq’s singing is breathy in a very different way.
    — John Adamian, courant.com, 14 June 2019
  • His delivery is breathy and smooth, almost whispered, at times.
    — David Lyman, Cincinnati.com, 7 June 2018
  • Clairo's sweet, breathy, smooth voice both mesmerized and eased the audience.
    — Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 5 Nov. 2024
  • As a singer, Lipa is breathy and buoyant, but her lyrics skew literal.
    — Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2021
  • Talking with your mouth pressed up against a microphone is a great way to come across extremely loud and breathy.
    — Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2021
  • Tinashe’s latest breathy variation on how to let desire conquer all.
    — New York Times, 16 Feb. 2018
  • Connell’s clavicle-gracing chain isn’t the first to inspire breathy sighs.
    — Todd Plummer, WSJ, 10 June 2020
  • Apple delivers that number in a breathy, slow-and-low mode that can harken back to her sultry early work.
    — Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2020
  • Not long after, Klum got in the studio and passed over her breathy, delicate vocals.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 26 Jan. 2024
  • Kaui was drifting in between my legs, the breathy tickle of her hair against my thighs, a few fingers pressing after.
    — New York Times, 31 Mar. 2020
  • Throughout the record, the trio blur the line between intricate blues and breathy tenderness.
    — Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader, 22 Mar. 2018
  • His majesty Jarvis Cocker even drops in for some breathy, baritone backing vocals.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2020
  • Liz Gillies, a longtime friend, plays the husky alto to Grande’s breathy soprano.
    — Richard S. He, Billboard, 27 Apr. 2018
  • Her appeal to millions of people isn’t just her voice — and her rich, breathy voice is searing in its emotion and raw beauty.
    — Allure, 14 July 2021
  • What sounded months ago like a breathy hint of possibility now sounds more like a steady drumbeat of intent.
    — Steven Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Apr. 2023
  • Petras pulls her weight here as well, with her breathy vocals giving a classic Kylie vibe with the song’s earworm melody.
    — Billboard Staff, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2024
  • The music was crisp yet deeply vibey, her breathy croon floating over her band’s retro-R&B arrangements.
    — August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2023
  • Pat McAfee, his high-tempo howl reduced to a breathy rasp, was running out of energy.
    — Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2022
  • This may be the quietest song on our list, but the acoustic guitars and breathy vocal evince quiet joy and more than a bit of sexiness.
    — Brett Milano, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
  • With his breathy, sweet vocals and swirling guitar lines, Viphurit’s sounds are the stuff of fantasy.
    — Teta Alim, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2019
  • The acoustics of the room amplify the breathy cacophony blowing from the four saxes on stage.
    — Trevor Fraser, OrlandoSentinel.com, 27 Apr. 2018
  • The track is right up Del Rey's alley, with its laid-back and languorous feel, breathy vocals, and themes of carefree youth.
    — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, 2 Jan. 2018
  • Gordon has a breathy voice, a tendency to dole out compliments, and a peaches-and-cream aesthetic.
    — Jenny Singer, Glamour, 19 Aug. 2021
  • Synthesizers flash like emergency flares; the drums remain curt and clipped; vocalists trace breathy arcs in the space cleared by the bullish low-end.
    — Elias Leight, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2024
  • The 20-year-old stays true to the serene nature of the track, infusing his version with subtle vocal runs and breathy moments.
    — Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 31 May 2022
  • Meanwhile, a small group of women began singing in breathy, blended vocals that felt both ancient and futuristic.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 16 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breathy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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