32+ Vivid Adjectives That Describe a Person’s Voice

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The English language is chock-full of unique, exciting words to describe a person's voice. Whether you're discussing someone real or writing a fictional character, there's one word that perfectly describes the way they speak—and you'll find it listed below! We've also included definitions and examples to help you get started; so what are you waiting for? Enjoy our complete list of adjectives that describe a person's voice!

Things You Should Know

  • Voices can be described by their volume. For example, "booming" and "feathery" are ways to describe loud and quiet voices.
  • Some adjectives help describe a voice's tone and pitch; "monotone" and "shrill," for instance.
  • You can also describe how someone's voice affects others. "Soporific" voices put people to sleep, and "hypnotic" voices hold them in a trance.
1

Adenoidal

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  1. Use this to describe a voice that sounds unpleasant, forced, and breathy. [1]
    • Example: “I couldn’t focus on what he was actually saying, just his annoying, adenoidal voice.”
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2

Angelic

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  1. This can reflect inherent qualities of the speaker; or, this can also be a voice that just naturally raises the spirits of people around them. [2]
    • Example: “They spoke to us in an angelic voice, and we trusted everything they had to say because of it.”
3

Animated

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Ways to Describe a Voice
    Select this adjective when you’re describing someone excitable or in an engaging or intense conversation. [3]
    • Example: “Listening to her animated voice, I knew she was really passionate about the topic at hand.”
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4

Booming

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  1. These are the kinds of voices that can immediately cut through the noise.
    • Example: “The camp counselor knew that her booming voice would get the kid’s attention.”
5

Brittle

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  1. Use this to describe someone’s voice when they’re on the verge of tears. [4]
    • Example: “The little boy’s hands were shaking and he responded in a brittle voice: 'I don’t want to go to bed yet.'"
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6

Croaky

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  1. People with croaky voices might sound like they have sandpaper in the back of their throats. [5]
    • Example: “Their voice was so croaky, it made them sound 10 years older than they actually were.”
7

Crisp

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  1. You might describe someone’s voice as “crisp” if they have excellent annunciation; or, on the other hand, you might use “crisp” for someone no-nonsense and to the point. [6]
    • Example: “Her speaking voice was so beautiful and crisp—you could tell she’d spent years doing theater.”
    • Example: “He gave the directions quickly in a crisp voice; he wasn’t messing around.”
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8

Ethereal

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  1. This can mean different things to different people, but typically, ethereal voices are pleasant, airy, soft, and beautiful. [7]
    • Example: “I’m so excited for the Weyes Blood concert this weekend. Her voice is the definition of ethereal!”
9

Feathery

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  1. Use this to describe someone quiet, with a thin and wispy quality of voice. [8]
    • Example: “With his feathery voice, I could hardly hear him speak above the noise.”
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10

Flat

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  1. Use this adjective to describe a boring voice that might just put its audience to sleep. [9]
    • Example: “If my professor’s voice gets any flatter, I’m going to start nodding off in lecture.”
11

Grating

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  1. Use this word for someone who’s like your alarm clock personified—they’re horrible to listen to. [10]
    • Example: “Though I agree entirely with the politician’s stance, their voice is so grating—I don’t know if I could listen to this for 4 years…”
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12

Gravelly

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  1. Use this voice for someone who has a tough-sounding, baritone voice.
    • Example: “The cowboy looked across the saloon and, in a gravelly voice, said: 'This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.'”
13

Hoarse

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  1. Select this word to describe someone’s sick voice, for example. “Hoarse” is unlike “croaky” or “gravelly,” because it’s associated with quieter, weaker voices. [11]
    • Example: “Their hoarse voice piped up from the bed, 'I’m really not feeling well—could you grab me some water?'”
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14

Honeyed

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  1. Sometimes this word is also used to describe someone whose "kind" voice is insincere or phony. [12]
    • Example: “Her voice was honeyed while company was still hanging around, but I knew the second they left, she’d start yelling.”
15

Husky

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  1. Use this for someone whose lower, raspy voice gets them noticed by other people. [13]
    • Example: “Even though I knew we could never be together, her husky voice was so hard to resist.”
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16

Hypnotic

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  1. For whatever reason, these voices completely grab the attention of their audience—it could be charisma, clear vocal quality, anything. [14]
    • Example: “Her hypnotic voice grabbed me immediately. When my best friend got up to leave, I didn’t even notice.”
17

Mellifluous

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  1. Use this word to describe someone’s voice if it’s noticeably pleasing to the ear. [15]
    • Example: “I fell in love with him the second he spoke to me—his voice was mellifluous.”
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18

Modulated

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  1. Use this word when a speaker thoughtfully tweaks their voice’s tone and tempo in an effort to sound pleasing or understandable. [16]
    • Example: “They spoke with a modulated voice and passionately argued for climate change reform—I knew that the whole audience was moved.”
19

Monotonous

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  1. Choose this word when you’re describing a voice that could belong to a robot—it’s so boring that listeners might find it annoying.
    • Example: “As he continued telling his long story in a monotonous voice, I hit my wit's end: 'I’m going to go to the bathroom!'”
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20

Orotund

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  1. Use this adjective when someone’s speaking voice is convincing, confident, and rich. It might even spill into overconfidence. [17]
    • Example: “Their orotund voice made for an amazing toast, though it did feel like they were talking down to us at times.”
21

Penetrating

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  1. Choose this word to describe a scream, or a voice with high volume that makes others uncomfortable.
    • Example: “Her penetrating scream was heard all the way from the next neighborhood.”
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22

Plummy

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  1. Note that in most cases, “plummy” is used in a negative way, to poke fun at or criticize the speaker. [18]
    • Example: “I’ve heard just about enough of her plummy voice; who does she think she is?”
23

Raucous

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  1. Use this description for someone whose voice hits high volumes, but is agitating. [19]
    • Example: “He’s so rowdy. That raucous voice is going to get him into trouble one of these days.”
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24

Resonant

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  1. Use this word to describe someone’s voice if it’s strong and hard to shake. [20]
    • Example: “My teacher told me that I have a resonant voice, so they suggested I join the speech team.”
25

Shrill

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  1. Use this word to describe someone’s voice that’s like a squeal or a squeak—it might make you want to cover your ears. [21]
    • Example: “They blathered on in a shrill voice for hours; I left their house needing an Advil.”
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26

Silvery

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  1. They might also have a slightly soft, high, or musical tone. [22]
    • Example: “As I listened to him speak in that gorgeous, silvery voice, I thought about how he’d be a great podcast host.”
27

Singsong

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  1. Choose this word when someone has a noticeably rhythmical way of speaking.
    • Example: “She told the fairytale to kids in a singsong voice that had them all on the edges of their seats.”
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28

Soporific

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  1. This could be for any number of reasons. The person’s voice may be relaxing, boring, or warm—but if it causes people to nod off, it’s soporific. [23]
    • Example: “His singing voice was soporific. Sitting by the campfire, I felt like I could fall asleep to his melodies.”
29

Stentorian

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  1. Use this word when someone’s voice is booming and deep—some of the time, “stentorian” is used when a person’s voice is louder than it should be. [24]
    • Example: “The whole room was chattering until she clapped her hands twice and spoke in a stentorian voice: 'Listen up!'”
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30

Taut

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  1. Typically, a taut voice implies that someone is nervous, stressed, or angry. [25]
    • Example: “When I heard his taut voice, I knew that the stain I left on his jacket bothered him more than he’d let on.”
31

Throaty

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  1. Just like a nasally voice seems to come from the nose, a throaty voice sounds like it’s coming from the bottom of a person’s throat.
    • Example: “His throaty laugh was so unique, I could recognize it anywhere.”
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32

Tremulous

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  1. Use this word to describe someone’s voice when it’s noticeably quavering, especially because of uncertainty or nerves. [26]
    • Example: “My coach’s tremulous voice made me question her confidence in us—did she think we were going to lose our lead?”

Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What are some words that describe a uniquely powerful voice?
    Community Answer
    Resonant, commanding, distinctive, enthralling, dynamic, unforgettable, impressive, authoritative, compelling, strong, captivating, striking, empowering, majestic, unbridled, unmatched, spellbinding, exceptional, persuasive and invigorating.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 11
  • Question
    What is a description of someone who is not speaking loudly, but their voice carries across the room?
    Butterfly
    Top Answerer
    Feathery yet resonant.
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  • Question
    What do you call a voice that's strong yet soft, or a voice that's normal but not in a basic way?
    Butterfly
    Top Answerer
    For strong yet soft, velvety is a good choice. For normal, distinct is a good word.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/adenoidal
      2. ↑ https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/voice-descriptions
      3. ↑ https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/voice-descriptions
      4. ↑ https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/voice-descriptions
      5. ↑ https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/croaky-voice
      6. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/crisp
      7. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethereal
      8. ↑ https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/feathery
      9. ↑ http://vocularapp.com/monotone-voice-myth/
      1. ↑ https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/voice-descriptions
      2. ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hoarseness
      3. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeyed
      4. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/husky
      5. ↑ https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/hypnotic
      6. ↑ https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/mellifluous
      7. ↑ https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/modulate
      8. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/browse/orotund
      9. ↑ https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/plummy
      10. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raucous
      11. ↑ https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/resonance
      12. ↑ https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/shrill
      13. ↑ ​​ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silvery
      14. ↑ https://www.wineverygame.com/words/soporific.html
      15. ↑ https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/stentorian
      16. ↑ https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/taut
      17. ↑ https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/tremulous

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