What does croony mean?
Croony is an adjective used to describe sounds — most often singing or voices — that are soft, low, and sentimental in character, evoking the style known as crooning. It appears chiefly in music writing, where reviewers might praise a singer's croony delivery on a ballad or, conversely, criticize a performance as overly croony and syrupy. The word derives from the verb 'to croon,' which means to sing or hum in a gentle, intimate way, a style popularized by vocalists in the age of the radio microphone. Though rare in everyday conversation, croony is useful for capturing a precise aesthetic quality: warmth, closeness, and emotional tenderness in tone. Its connotations range from affectionate appreciation of mellow, romantic music to mild mockery of affected smoothness, making it a flexible term for describing everything from jazz standards to whispered lullabies.
adjectiveSoft, low, and sentimental in manner or sound, especially describing singing or a voice that croons in a gentle, intimate style.
- Describing music, especially singing, that is soft, low-pitched, and sentimental in the manner of crooning.
- Describing a voice or manner that is gentle, soothing, and intimate.
"The singer's croony rendition of the old standard filled the dimly lit lounge."
"The band's croony cover version traded the original's energy for smoky late-night intimacy."
"He adopted a croony murmur when trying to lull the baby to sleep."
Before Frank Sinatra, there was simply being 'croony' — a word critics used to describe the intimate, microphone-friendly singing style that scandalized purists in the 1920s and 30s.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of croony
Croony derives from the verb 'croon,' which entered English from Middle English 'cronen,' likely borrowed from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German source related to humming and lamenting. The verb originally carried meanings of low mournful murmuring before shifting toward gentle singing. The adjective croony formed later, gaining particular currency in the early twentieth century as critics sought a label for the new microphone-driven singing style of popular vocalists.
Related word forms
How croony is actually used
Croony is a relatively rare adjective, most often encountered in music journalism and criticism, where it can be neutral or slightly pejorative depending on context — praising intimacy or implying excessive sentimentality.
Easily confused with croony
A 'crone' is a noun meaning an old woman, especially an ugly or unpleasant one, while 'croony' is an adjective describing a soft, sentimental quality of sound.
'Croon' is the verb meaning to sing softly and sentimentally, whereas 'croony' is the adjective describing that quality.