HOARSE Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

hoarse

adjective

ˈhȯrs

Definition of hoarse

as in gruff

harsh and dry in sound the dying man spoke in a hoarse whisper

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hoarse Workers also reported hoarse voices, chronic coughs and asthma-like symptoms. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2026 When 39 days of elite physical punishment concluded with stadium lights dimming across North America, millions of fans limped away from watch parties with hoarse voices and sore feet. — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The 28-year-old singer cut her Tuesday evening set short after playing only a few songs inside the Colorado city’s Ball Arena, with fan footage captured inside the venue showing Moroney speaking to fans through a hoarse voice. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026 The other was a tearing beauty, a creature so lovely that one look at her sent young men’s blood pressure skyward and set them to uttering wild, hoarse cries and tearing telephone directories apart with the bare hands. — John Madson, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hoarse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoarse

Adjective

Defying the old-school stereotype of the hard-nosed, gruff newspaper boss, Vaughn often mentored young reporters in a serious but friendly and encouraging manner.

— Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Over three decades in stand-up comedy, Bill Burr has gained a reputation for saying, with gruff conviction and political fire, the thing on everyone’s mind.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of gruff

Adjective

Gomez, who has a noticeably husky, raspy voice at times, answered a fan question about her vocal quirkiness during an Instagram Live session last December.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026
Her husky voice made Pugh, as an up-and-comer, seem wise beyond her years in breakout roles as a Machiavellian teenage bride in Lady Macbeth and an actor turned spy in The Little Drummer Girl.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of husky

Adjective

Biting lines such as these come frequently from Diplo, who has little in the way of a filter and a coarse sense of humor, especially on social media.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
In a mortar and pestle, crush the coriander seeds and peppercorns until cracked but still coarse.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of coarse

Adjective

Panarin beat rusty backup Semyon Varlamov glove side twice, and Darcy Kuemper kept making stops even as his rebound control was lacking, finishing with 41 saves.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Sunny yellow, warm cinnamon, pastel pink, royal purple, rusty red—these are just a few of the available colors of chrysanthemums.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of rusty

Browse Nearby Words

hoariness

hoarse

hoary

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Style

“Hoarse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoarse. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hoarse

adjective

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