What does hoarser mean?
Hoarse describes a voice that sounds rough, strained, or unusually deep, usually because the throat has been irritated or overworked. A person may become hoarse after a cold, prolonged shouting, or sustained singing, and the adjective also applies to rough, scraping sounds more generally. In its familiar sense, “hoarse” conveys that the vocal cords are not working smoothly and that speech has lost some of its clarity or resonance. The term is widely understood in formal and informal English in both British and American usage. It is useful not only for describing a symptom but also for suggesting age, fatigue, hardship, or a deliberately rugged vocal style. The related adverb “hoarsely” describes how someone speaks or performs, while “hoarseness” names the condition of having such a voice.
adjectiveHaving a rough, strained, or deepened voice, often as a result of a cold, prolonged use, or irritation of the throat.
- Having a rough, strained, or deepened voice.
- Producing a rough, scraping, or indistinct sound.
"After the concert, her voice had become hoarse from singing for nearly three hours."
"He woke with a hoarse voice and a sore throat."
"The old radio emitted a hoarse, intermittent sound."
A hoarse voice is often the body's warning that the throat needs rest before irritation becomes something more serious.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hoarser come from?
Hoarse comes from Old English hās, an adjective meaning “hoarse,” with a related Old Norse form. The word is generally traced to a Germanic root associated with a rough or harsh quality, linking its vocal sense with older English descriptions of a coarse sound or unpleasant sensation.
Related word forms
How hoarser is actually used
Hoarse is commonly used for a person's voice affected by illness, fatigue, crying, or excessive use. It can also describe a sound that is rough and indistinct. The word may carry a slight association with age or rough appearance in literary use, but its principal modern sense concerns vocal quality.
Easily confused with hoarser
Hoarse describes a rough or strained voice, whereas hoary describes something old, gray, or worn with age.