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

• gruff
• husky
• coarse
• rusty
• rasping

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

Her voice was loud and hoarse, calling out comments or exhortations concerning the game. —Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025

Joe Biden’s disastrous June 2024 debate performance, when the nation witnessed a hoarse and feeble president losing his train of thought and struggling to finish sentences, ended his re-election campaign. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 8 July 2025

For most of his first 10 songs, Costello’s singing was ragged and hoarse. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025

Screamed himself hoarse and still tried calling for his brother. —Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025

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

Rhymes for hoarse

• bourse
• coarse
• course
• force
• gorse
• horse
• norse
• source
• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce

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