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

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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 Others walked home sunburned, hoarse and still dressed in blue and orange. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 18 June 2026 During the debate, Joe Biden frequently lost his train of thought, stumbled over answers, and appeared hoarse, fueling concerns among voters and party leaders. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026 Signs include panting, a hoarse bark, scuffing or dragging their toes along the ground, and sometimes regurgitation or swallowing problems. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026 His usually peppy voice is hoarse. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hoarse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoarse

Adjective

His gruff mechanic Cooter Davenport is introduced as a hell-raising, uncouth wild man, constantly taunting the authorities and flouting convention.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
Pangan remembers of Brun, imitating his gruff voice, and shaking her head.

— Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of gruff

Adjective

Tyler, after a brief recovery period, returned to the recording studio with a huskier, edgier voice.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
The extravagant, hi-NRG single showcased the breadth of Tyler’s husky grandeur, which proved a perfect fit for Giorgio Moroder.

— Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026

Definition of husky

Adjective

As estrogen falls while testosterone continues circulating, once-fine facial hairs can become coarser and more noticeable.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 18 Aug. 2026
Suddenly, her parents’ cheerful transparency—their coarse jokes, their eagerness to name things that should not be named—appeared to Nidhi in a faintly embarrassing light.

— Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of coarse

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hoariness

hoarse

hoary

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“Hoarse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoarse. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hoarse

adjective

Example Sentences

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