32+ Vivid Adjectives That Describe a Person’s Voice.

The English language is chock-full of unique, exciting words to describe a person's voice. Whether you're discussing someone real or writing a fictional character, there's one word that perfectly describes the way they speak—and you'll find it listed below! We've also included definitions and examples to help you get started; so what are you waiting for? Enjoy our complete list of adjectives that describe a person's voice!

Things You Should Know

• Voices can be described by their volume. For example, "booming" and "feathery" are ways to describe loud and quiet voices.
• Some adjectives help describe a voice's tone and pitch; "monotone" and "shrill," for instance.
• You can also describe how someone's voice affects others. "Soporific" voices put people to sleep, and "hypnotic" voices hold them in a trance.

Steps

1

Adenoidal

1. 

   Adenoidal voices are nasally, and mainly come through the nose. Use this to describe a voice that sounds unpleasant, forced, and breathy.
   • Example: “I couldn’t focus on what he was actually saying, just his annoying, adenoidal voice.”

2

Angelic

1. 

   Angelic voices are thought to be inherently good and kind. This can reflect inherent qualities of the speaker; or, this can also be a voice that just naturally raises the spirits of people around them.
   • Example: “They spoke to us in an angelic voice, and we trusted everything they had to say because of it.”

3

Animated

1. 

   Animated voices are lively and clearly show the speaker's feelings. Select this adjective when you’re describing someone excitable or in an engaging or intense conversation.
   • Example: “Listening to her animated voice, I knew she was really passionate about the topic at hand.”

4

Booming

1. 

   Booming voices refer to loud, sometimes deep voices. These are the kinds of voices that can immediately cut through the noise.
   • Example: “The camp counselor knew that her booming voice would get the kid’s attention.”

5

Brittle

1. 

   Brittle voices are hard, sharp, and fragile sounding. Use this to describe someone’s voice when they’re on the verge of tears.
   • Example: “The little boy’s hands were shaking and he responded in a brittle voice: 'I don’t want to go to bed yet.'"

6

Croaky

1. 

   Croaky voices are low, rough, and maybe a little hoarse. People with croaky voices might sound like they have sandpaper in the back of their throats.
   • Example: “Their voice was so croaky, it made them sound 10 years older than they actually were.”

7

Crisp

1. 

   Crisp voices are clear sounding, quick, and efficient. You might describe someone’s voice as “crisp” if they have excellent annunciation; or, on the other hand, you might use “crisp” for someone no-nonsense and to the point.
   • Example: “Her speaking voice was so beautiful and crisp—you could tell she’d spent years doing theater.”
   • Example: “He gave the directions quickly in a crisp voice; he wasn’t messing around.”

8

Ethereal

1. 

   Ethereal voices have a heavenly quality. This can mean different things to different people, but typically, ethereal voices are pleasant, airy, soft, and beautiful.
   • Example: “I’m so excited for the Weyes Blood concert this weekend. Her voice is the definition of ethereal!”

9

Feathery

1. 

   Feathery voices are thin, soft, and airy. Use this to describe someone quiet, with a thin and wispy quality of voice.
   • Example: “With his feathery voice, I could hardly hear him speak above the noise.”

10

Flat

1. 

   Flat voices are monotone and emotionless. Use this adjective to describe a boring voice that might just put its audience to sleep.
   • Example: “If my professor’s voice gets any flatter, I’m going to start nodding off in lecture.”

11

Grating

1. 

   Grating voices are extremely harsh and annoying. Use this word for someone who’s like your alarm clock personified—they’re horrible to listen to.
   • Example: “Though I agree entirely with the politician’s stance, their voice is so grating—I don’t know if I could listen to this for 4 years…”

12

Gravelly

1. 

   Gravelly voices are low, rough, and raspy. Use this voice for someone who has a tough-sounding, baritone voice.
   • Example: “The cowboy looked across the saloon and, in a gravelly voice, said: 'This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.'”

13

Hoarse

1. 

   Hoarse voices are raspy, strained, and thin-sounding. Select this word to describe someone’s sick voice, for example. “Hoarse” is unlike “croaky” or “gravelly,” because it’s associated with quieter, weaker voices.
   • Example: “Their hoarse voice piped up from the bed, 'I’m really not feeling well—could you grab me some water?'”

14

Honeyed

1. 

   Honeyed voices are pleasant, gentle, and sweet. Sometimes this word is also used to describe someone whose "kind" voice is insincere or phony.
   • Example: “Her voice was honeyed while company was still hanging around, but I knew the second they left, she’d start yelling.”

15

Husky

1. 

   Husky voices are low and hoarse—often in an attractive way. Use this for someone whose lower, raspy voice gets them noticed by other people.
   • Example: “Even though I knew we could never be together, her husky voice was so hard to resist.”

16

Hypnotic

1. 

   Hypnotic voices put audiences in a trance. For whatever reason, these voices completely grab the attention of their audience—it could be charisma, clear vocal quality, anything.
   • Example: “Her hypnotic voice grabbed me immediately. When my best friend got up to leave, I didn’t even notice.”

17

Mellifluous

1. 

   Mellifluous voices are sweet, smooth, and musical. Use this word to describe someone’s voice if it’s noticeably pleasing to the ear.
   • Example: “I fell in love with him the second he spoke to me—his voice was mellifluous.”

18

Modulated

1. 

   Modulated voices are purposefully adjusted, usually to be clearer. Use this word when a speaker thoughtfully tweaks their voice’s tone and tempo in an effort to sound pleasing or understandable.
   • Example: “They spoke with a modulated voice and passionately argued for climate change reform—I knew that the whole audience was moved.”

19

Monotonous

1. 

   Monotonous voices are flat, meaning that they rarely vary in tone. Choose this word when you’re describing a voice that could belong to a robot—it’s so boring that listeners might find it annoying.
   • Example: “As he continued telling his long story in a monotonous voice, I hit my wit's end: 'I’m going to go to the bathroom!'”

20

Orotund

1. 

   Orotund voices are strong and clear—sometimes even pompous. Use this adjective when someone’s speaking voice is convincing, confident, and rich. It might even spill into overconfidence.
   • Example: “Their orotund voice made for an amazing toast, though it did feel like they were talking down to us at times.”

21

Penetrating

1. 

   Penetrating voices are disruptive, loud, and high-pitched. Choose this word to describe a scream, or a voice with high volume that makes others uncomfortable.
   • Example: “Her penetrating scream was heard all the way from the next neighborhood.”

22

Plummy

1. 

   Plummy voices sound posh, formal, and upper-class. Note that in most cases, “plummy” is used in a negative way, to poke fun at or criticize the speaker.

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