PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

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

PDF download Download Article
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
  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.”
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
  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.”
  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.'"
  2. Advertisement
  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.”
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
  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!”
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
  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.”
  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…”
  2. Advertisement
12

Gravelly

PDF download Download Article
  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.'”
  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?'”
  2. Advertisement
  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.”
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
16

Hypnotic

PDF download Download Article
  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

PDF download Download Article
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
18

Modulated

PDF download Download Article
  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

PDF download Download Article
  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!'”
  2. Advertisement
  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

PDF download Download Article
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
  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?”
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
24

Resonant

PDF download Download Article
  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.”
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
  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

PDF download Download Article
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
28

Soporific

PDF download Download Article
  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

PDF download Download Article
  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!'”
  2. Advertisement
  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.”
  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.”
  2. Advertisement
32

Tremulous

PDF download Download Article
  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

Search
Add New Question
  • 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.
  • Question
    What is a description of someone who is not speaking loudly, but their voice carries across the room?
    Pixie~
    Top Answerer
    Feathery yet resonant.
  • Question
    What do you call a voice that's strong yet soft, or a voice that's normal but not in a basic way?
    Pixie~
    Top Answerer
    For strong yet soft, velvety is a good choice. For normal, distinct is a good word.
See more answers
Ask a Question
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 260,596 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement