hoarse

adjective

ˈhȯrs 

hoarser; hoarsest

1

: rough or harsh in sound : grating

a hoarse voice

2

: having a hoarse voice

shouted himself hoarse

hoarsely adverb

hoarseness noun

Synonyms

• coarse
• croaking
• croaky
• grating
• gravel
• gravelly
• gruff
• husky
• rasping
• raspy
• rusty
• scratchy
• throaty

Examples of hoarse in a Sentence

She could only speak in a hoarse whisper.

The cold made me a little hoarse.

Recent Examples on the Web

During the presidential debate between Biden and Trump, the president's voice sounded hoarse, particularly as the debate began, and his answers at times seemed muddled. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

Your voice may be hoarse, and your throat may be sore, inflamed, or painful. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 1 Sep. 2024

But in the debate, Biden sounded hoarse and and at times struggled to complete sentences. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 July 2024

But in the debate, Biden sounded hoarse and sometimes struggled to complete sentences. —Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hos, hors, probably from Old Norse *hārs, hāss; akin to Old English hās hoarse, Old High German heis

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hoarse

• shout oneself hoarse

Kids Definition

hoarse

adjective

ˈhō(ə)rs 

ˈhȯ(ə)rs

hoarser; hoarsest

1

: harsh in sound

2

: having a rough voice

a cold made me hoarse

hoarsely adverb

hoarseness noun

Medical Definition

hoarse

adjective

ˈhō(ə)rs, ˈhȯ(ə)rs 

hoarser; hoarsest

1

: rough or harsh in sound

a hoarse voice

2

: having a hoarse voice

was hoarse from shouting

hoarsely adverb

hoarseness noun